I love laughing. I absolutely love it when someone can make me genuinely laugh. And no one makes me laugh more than my best friend. Not once in my life have I ever found a man funnier than my best friend.

Recently, Chanté Joseph wrote a piece featured in VOGUE titled “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?” and while I agree with many of the article’s main points, I disagree with the idea that having a boyfriend is embarrassing. I do, however, believe that having a boyfriend is a far less significant part of life than it is promoted to be by the media and societal expectations. And even more so, I think that having a boyfriend is so incredibly lame compared to having a best friend.

My best friends are my other halves; they genuinely complete me. They add so much joy and meaning to my life. Whenever I need anything, whether I say I need it or not, they are there. Whether it be Dutch Bros, advice, a shoulder to cry on or a shopping buddy, I know who to call. I almost feel more like myself – I feel the most like Lake – when I’m with my friends.

All my best memories are the ones filled with laughter, side quests, late nights and getting in trouble with my best friends. A man could never make me feel half of the happiness that I feel with them. Every time I’ve been interested in a man, I end up feeling “too much,” overly self-conscious and boring, but the qualities that my friends bring out in me are the complete opposite: fun, free, confident and full of life.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, everyone is so focused on romantic love, but we often forget one of the truest forms of love that humans get the privilege of experiencing: platonic love. Having a boyfriend isn’t bad, but they will never hype you up, bring out the best in you or make you laugh as hard as a genuine best friend will.