Without a doubt, one of the best gifts in life is friendship. Throughout the many phases of my life, I’ve had the distinct pleasure of having a variety of friends. Some friendships were seasonal, some are lifelong, but all have had an important impact.
The Seasonal Friend
The Seasonal Friend is one with whom you had much in common during a particular phase or season in your life. Sometimes, these friendships wane with time when personal circumstances change. We would all love to believe that those special friends we met in kindergarten will still be our close friends when we reach adulthood. However, with a few exceptions, that is often not the case. However, we can still think of them fondly, remember meaningful moments with them during that phase of our life, and even stay in touch in today’s world of social media.
The Family Friend
The Family Friend admittedly covers a lot of ground: parents, children, siblings, spouses. These friendships can be quite intricate and even complicated, and often evolve over time as traditional roles and family dynamics change. For example, in the early stages of one’s life, a parent is a nurturer, provider of food and shelter, and often by necessity, a disciplinarian. Later in life, once some of these roles are no longer as prominent, that same parent can become a close friend and mentor. Sisters and brothers can be close personal friends, if not when growing up, then perhaps later in life. Sometimes the presence of sibling rivalries, the need for parental recognition, and basic immaturity can interfere with these friendships during younger years. And, if you are very lucky, and willing to invest the time and energy required, a spouse can become your most trusted friend.
The Fantasy Friend
The Fantasy Friend is one who provides much-needed escape, loves to have a good time, and is always eager to participate in adventurous activities. This friend may even push you beyond your comfort zone, which frankly each of us needs from time to time. This friend may or may not be the type of friend you share your deepest darkest secrets with, but is a very valuable commodity nonetheless. If you don’t already have one, I highly recommend finding a Fantasy Friend.
The Therapeutic Friend
The Therapeutic Friend is one who provides non-judgmental emotional support during especially difficult times in your life. This person is often willing to sit and listen for hours about a multitude of topics, including breakups, career challenges, health problems, and other traumatic events. The Therapeutic Friend is critical to the successful navigation of turbulent emotional waters.
The Professional Friend
The Professional Friend is one who provides intellectual stimulation and guidance within a professional or job setting, perhaps even acting as a career mentor. It may be advantageous to establish boundaries with this person, especially if the relationship is supervisory in nature. For example, a Professional Friend may not make the most appropriate drinking buddy.
The Contextual Friend
The Contextual Friend is one who adds value to your life within a specific context or setting. Outside of the context or setting, you may or may not have a great deal in common with this person. My advice is to enjoy the friendship within its natural context, and don’t worry about whether it fits within the other areas of your life.
The Lifelong Friend
The Lifelong Friend is perhaps the most elusive and the most valuable. Oftentimes, these friends embody several of the profiles listed above. They fully accept you as you are, having travelled with you throughout various seasons of your life. Even if you don’t get the chance to see one another very often, the true sign of a Lifelong Friend is that you just seem to be able to pick up where you left off. If you have a couple of Lifelong Friends, consider yourself to be a wealthy individual.
In Closing…
No matter the number or type of friends you have, it is important to carefully nurture these relationships. Let these people know they have made an impact on your life, helping to shape the person you have become. Don’t assume they know how you feel. Take the time to tell them.
Sometimes I find that the most important lessons in life are really the simplest…and here’s one of them. The best way to make a friend is to be one.
What type of friend are you? What type of friend do you hope to be? Connect with me and let me know!
Sincerely Kay Parent 
My greatest friendships are those I share with my three grown daughters. I also hope that my sons-in-law and my grandchildren realize that a mother-in-law and a grandma can also be a friend. I try to be a friend to my neighbors by discovering ways we can add to each other’s lives. Even though my high-school friends live hundreds of miles away, I try to keep in touch through class reunions and social media. I also hope to make new friends in the future.
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