This passage from Matthew Kelly’s book Rediscover Catholicism really resonated with me, and I am so grateful to be surrounded by these sorts of friends in my life!
I love being around people who are striving to love God and better themselves. They energize me. They inspire me. They challenge me. They make me want to be a better person.
This is true friendship. A true friend brings the best out of his or her friends. You cannot convince me that someone who is not helping you to become the-best-version-of-yourself is a good friend.
For this reason, when I have time to spend with friends, I try to surround myself with people who make me want to be a better person. I admit they are not easy to find, but when you do find them, they are more precious than any treasure or pleasure this world has to offer.
If you want a litmus test for choosing friends, use this question: Will spending time with this person make me a better person?