One of the biggest tests of friendship is your success

A woman recently asked me if genuine friendships still exist in a world where everything feels competitive. The question came after something unexpected happened. She had achieved a goal she'd been working toward for years, and while she expected her friends to be happy for her, some of them seemed strangely distant. Nobody said anything negative. But the excitement wasn't there either. That's when she started wondering whether some people only support you when you're struggling alongside them. The more we talked about it, the more I realized that success reveals a lot about a friendship. It's easy to cheer for someone when their life isn't changing. It's harder when they're growing, succeeding, or moving into opportunities you wish you had yourself. That's why I think one of the clearest signs of a true friend is their ability to celebrate your wins without making them about themselves. Real friends don't see your progress as competition. They don't secretly hope you stay where you are so they can feel comfortable. They don't become cold when things start going well for you. Instead, they root for you. They ask questions, celebrate milestones, and genuinely want to see you succeed. The older I get, the more I believe that friendship isn't about keeping score. It's about wanting good things for people you care about, even when life is taking you down different paths. A friend who can celebrate your success is rare. A friend who feels threatened by it is revealing something important. Have you ever noticed a friendship change after you experienced personal growth or success?