The 10 Different Kinds Of Friends We Have

We all have friends. Often times, we have friends that join us at different parts in our lives. We have best friends that stick with us forever, but more often than not they all serve different purposes. At the end of the day, we may not need friendship to live, but we require friendship to thrive. Much like C.S. Lewis once said, “friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival,” friends give us meaning in our lives—no matter what role they play.

1. The Intellectual

He or she presses you to think about the world around you. Intellectuals pose thought-provoking questions about work, life, children, education, love, and how all of those things work together. You think about who you are and what you represent when you’re around them. They motivate you to study, read, and be original.

2. The Fun One

The fun friend often gets a bad rap as an enabler. They bring out the little kid in you, and never fail to make you smile. Probably one of your wilder friends, they love to go out on the town and always want to bring you with them. They want you to relax, have a good time, and forget about the stress in your life.

3. The “Mom”

This friend is your role model. She is mostly overprotective, but its only because she really cares about you. She is the one you text when you’re having a bad day. She can tell you need a hug without you uttering a word. She forces you to think through all your decisions, and she always knows best (but let’s be honest, you don’t always listen). She’s loving, critical, and compassionate, and will always be there for you no matter what.

4. The “Dad”

This friend is protective, blunt, and hard working. He is stubborn, but supportive. These friends strive to teach you lessons, but also want you to have fun. They may not always understand you or seem like they’re on your side, but they defend you more than anyone else. They are often your biggest advocate and biggest critic, but just remember, it’s because they want to see you succeed.

5. The “Older Brother”

This person knows you as well as anyone, but they’re quiet about it. Like moms, older brothers are overprotective, but in a very silent way. Instead of telling you what to do, they help you find the answer within yourself. They will make sure your significant others take care of you and make you happy. They take you to lunch when you need a break, they tell you when you’re being dumb, and they remind you who you are.

6. The “Younger Sister”

You love this friend more than anything. They’re one of your closest friends, and you tend to protect them as if they were actually related to you. Younger sisters bring perspective to life — they keep your grounded and remind you how lucky you are to have people that care about you. They ask for your advice, but at the end of the day you tend to think that you learn more about yourself from them than they do from you.

7. The Talker

Often, the talker tends to add a little spice to your life. They bring drama, but they keep you on your toes. You value you the dynamic they add to your friendships, and they never fail to keep things interesting. Talkers force you to think about their motivations, and really adapt your perspective. Sometimes they’ll challenge you, but at the end of the day they will add something intangible to your life that would seem empty without them.

8. The Listener

The listener is your sounding board. They know your motivation, your goals, and your life. Listeners are selfless, compassionate, and caring. You text them at 4am when you don’t know what to do, you have three hour conversations instead of going to sleep, and they will help you find the answers you are always looking for.

9. The Inspiration

The inspiration never seems to play by the rules. He or she will break the mold, but will always be the friend that will really make a difference in the world. The inspiration motivates you to be yourself, work hard, and be selfless. They work for non-profits, they speak loudly for their causes (with words or actions), and they teach you about the world around you in ways you could never imagine.

10. The Storyteller

Storytellers own the dinner table. They turn the most mundane experiences into a theatrical production, and they never fail to make you smile. They love to make people laugh, to watch Saturday Night Live and to live in the spotlight. They often make your abs hurt, use adjectives you only read in Charlotte Bronte novels, and have the best Facebook posts. Storytellers remind you of your past, and make you excited for the future.