Types Of Friends All Women Should Have

The older you get, the wiser.  We can only hope that as the years pass, we mature into a better version of ourselves.  Thankfully, this isn’t something that you have to leave to chance.  In fact, a great way to grow into the person you’ve always wanted to be is to make sure you surround yourself with people who have attributes you admire and want aspire to; and there’s no better way to do that than to seek friends who fit that criteria.  

Take a look around and make sure that there is always at least one of these types in your circle of friends.

  1. The mentor.  We can always learn from someone else’s mistakes, successes and life experiences.  This type of friend is usually older or someone who’s had a more difficult life than you’ve had.  A friend like this is good to have, especially when you have to make difficult life decisions. It’s quite possible that whatever you’re going through, they’ve experienced something similar and can offer you a different perspective that can help you navigate through life’s obstacles.
  2. The family member.  Your family is a special bunch.  Love them or hate them, there is a certain bond in families that just can’t be duplicated with an outside friend, which is why it’s important to have at least one family friend that you’re close to.  A family friend is in the trenches with you from the very start. There’s no need to fill them in on your history and how your family deals with things, because they already know.
  3. The brainiac. Learning doesn’t just come from books. Real learning – the kind of information you’ll remember for the long haul and not just for a pop quiz – can be had if you have a smart friend. Having this type of friend is quite possibly the easiest way to educate yourself that doesn’t require taking out a student loan you’ll be paying for the rest of your life.  Find a friend who’s also a walking Google and not only will you save the battery on your phone, but soon, a weird mental osmosis starts to happen, and you become a more intelligent person without even realizing it.
  4. The comedian. Everyday life gets a little too real sometimes and in those moments, it’s always good to have a funny friend who’ll lighten things up with an inappropriate penis joke at an inappropriate time.  Some of the smartest observations about life are made by comedians and that’s because funny people have a natural ability to see life’s ups and downs through fun house mirrored glasses.  Everyone should have a friend who can get you laughing so hard you start to sound like a donkey.  Laughter is indeed the best medicine and if you have a funny friend, you can always get a dose of it to cure a crappy day.
  5. The therapist. This friend is not a licensed therapist, but they might as well be.  They’re the friend you need when you just need to bitch, piss and moan and not have to worry about being judged or having your opinions being misconstrued.  This friend is there to listen to you, offer advice when you need it, or just to be a person to swap stories with. They’re the button you push to let off some steam in the pressure cooker that is life, so make sure you have a person like this in yours.
  6. The challenger.  One way a individual’s personal growth gets stunted is by hanging out with people who are too similar to them.  If you only associate yourself with people like you, you’re depriving yourself of experiences and perspectives that could help you have a well-rounded view of life and the world in general.  When you have friends who are outside your circle of norm, you gain a better understanding and appreciate the differences in people, religion, cultures, etc.  You learn how to find common ground with those who don’t have the same exact views or beliefs as you and become a much more worldly person who sees differences as something to learn from and not something to fear.
  7. The cheerleader. There are going to be several moments in your lifetime where you’re at the edge of something that could possibly be spectacular but for whatever reason, you’re hesitant to make the jump.  This is where your cheerleader friend comes in – to give you a push into the awesome unknown. The cheerleader friend is the one that squashes your inner doubt with words of encouragement as to why you’re qualified for that dream job you’ve always wanted, why you’re ready to strike out on your own, why you deserve better than that idiot guy who keeps borrowing money from you, etc. Don’t get beaten up by the harsh critiques you have of yourself – enlist a cheerleader friend to shut that voice up and remind you about all your positive qualities.
  8. The fitness freak.  In order to live life to the fullest, you first have to LIVE. And in order to live, you have to remain healthy, which is why a fit friend is an awesome friend to have. Studies show that you’re more likely to stick to a healthy lifestyle if you have other people in your lives who share in your healthy pursuits. Our fit friends and their flat abs can inspire you to get some of your own, and they’re there to help and teach you how to do it.  A fit friend can motivate you to work out on those days when all you want to do is to eat cake and wash it down with a tub of ice cream.
  9. The free spirit. Breaking out of the routine is always good, and when you get a hankering for a sudden road trip to Las Vegas or want to plan an elaborate trip to someplace you’ve never been before, the free spirit friend is right there to join in on the fun! While everyone else is scared to ride that new big roller coaster, this friend not only rides it along with you, but finds an even bigger roller coaster to ride immediately after.  These are the types of friends who help you create unforgettable memories that you’ll be telling to your grandchildren over and over again.
Elaine is a freelance writer who has written for Playboy and used to blog nonstop before she got a Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram and lost all focus. She loves mangoritas, talking in the third person and when you share her articles with your friends. Follow her on Twitter @Ladyhaha, or go to Shedens.com and read more of her ridiculousness.
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