The people we bring into our lives at all ages and stages as friends will help us learn how to forgive, laugh, love, and evolve. The basic components of any relationship, from our marriage to our co-workers, are all founded in friendship. We learn how to interact with people because of our friends, even the ones that oppose us or share a different worldview.
We don’t just befriend others but learn from them. We understand the process of meeting new acquaintances and finding out what makes them tick. These people help push us out of our comfort zones while still providing a safe emotional space for us to be totally ourselves.
According to www.exploringyourmind.com there are different friend 'types' that serve different purposes throughout or life cycle. Here are their 5 supposed friendship 'types', and what it is you can get out of each one.
1. Historical friends
Historical friends are those who have stayed in our lives as we’ve grown up, for whatever reason. They are not necessarily the closest friends we have, but they have stood the test of time. These are the friends we usually meet in school. We bond with them and the bond may fade but never disappear.
We may meet up with these friends only once in awhile, but when we do, we fall back into the rhythms of the relationship in no time at all. Then after the meeting we all go our own way until our paths cross again. But historical friends make up a piece of our identity.
2. Friends that are there for you when things are hard
Your relationship with these friends usually involves some paternal or maternal feelings. One protects and the other needs protection. One acts as counsellor and guide to the other. For some reason, he or she just knows what to do and say. Also in this category are friends who are brothers in arms. Teammates. Friends who stick together through thick or thin. They are our partners in crime. Out of all the types of friends there are, these ones may not be around all the time, but when times are tough, they’re there.
3. Friends of convenience
This is a utilitarian relationship. However, the relationship does go deeper than that. There is authentic affection, but with very clear limits. They are forged from common interests and often in the workplace.
Friends of convenience may also be what you have with your doctor or accountant. You turn to them whenever you have some need that they have expertise in. To sum up, what unites you is that you both get something out of the friendship.
4. Inter-generational friends
These may be one of the most special types of friends. It’s when people of very different ages somehow become soulmates. That means they may not do the same things in their daily lives, but they do share things in common. In general, they are not constant friendships but they run very deep.
Inter-generational friendships are common between teachers and students, for example. Or among people who share the same hobby or interest, if not age. They have a lot to add to each other’s lives, since exchanging perspectives can be very rewarding. In these friendships, there is true interest in each other.
5. Types of friends: friends of the heart
Your “friends of the heart” are the people you can call at two in the morning when you have a problem. They listen to you, give you their full attention, and are on your side no matter what. They know everything, or almost everything, about your life. With them, you feel confident and relaxed and don’t need to hide your true self because the foundation of your friendship is acceptance. Make sure you find at least one of these.