There is a saying that goes, “You cannot choose your blood relations, but you can choose your friends”. Every single time I come across this, my mind just goes “WOW!”. Although, the context differed at different phases of my life.  It is amazing how somebody who you didn’t even know existed, suddenly has a huge impact on your life. They know your birthday, your favorite food and about the time you got yelled at by your parents. From nothing to everything, friends can change your life.

Friendships are one of the best relationships out there. They can teach you, shape you and guide you on this journey called ‘life’. There is another saying that I would like to quote. “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”. I always assumed it was written by an old man on a wooden chair, sitting down by the countryside. The kind of person who had a lot of wisdom to share. However, this quote is so true. Friends can have an influence over you, be it good or bad. That is why it is important to choose and acknowledge the right ones.

Here are the types of friends that we all should have or have (in which case you are so lucky)

Remember, your friends are the ones who will fill the pages of your memory book with beautiful experiences.

 #1 The Human Diary

If you live alone in an apartment, this is the friend you would give the spare key to. You trust this person so much and you tell them all of your darkest secrets and personal confessions. You know very well for a fact that they won’t judge you and you can be yourself around them. They make you feel at home. You don’t even bother setting your hair when they video call you, because you know it is not worth it. You just sit there like you were struck by a lightening, laughing like a horse and making weird facial expressions.

#2 The Fun Squad

This is a bunch of friends (all mostly from the same gender or an equal mix) who ensure that every meeting they ever have is F.U.N. This is the squad that takes you to those places that you normally wouldn’t go. Trampoline Parks, Mystery Rooms, Bowling Alleys, anything you can name. They are the ones you call when you are seeking a distraction, because you know that they can make you laugh like crazy. The best part about the ‘fun squad’ is that, all of its members are treated equally. When one person is sick, the whole plan is dropped. When somebody wants to meet, everybody gathers around their doorstep. They make your life fulfilling.

#3 The Mentor

Ah the mentor! You know this person, because they are the ones you call for almost anything. From assignments to life decisions, you always want to know what they have to say. The Mentors are usually older than you by at least a year. They are ahead of you in the progression line and you approach them to get a head start, by learning from their experiences. They are like the counsellor you never paid, always giving you the right advice. They know you like the back of their hands. And when they say “this is where you will mess up”, it is exactly where you will mess up!

#4 The Childhood Bestie

This bestie is the person you have been friends with, since the time you could talk properly. You both started out life together and you probably went to the same kindergarten or elementary school. This is the friend who knows all about the embarrassing childhood stories, like the time you cried like a baby (like literally). Though you may have drifted apart physically, maybe because one of you had to move, you always have a soft spot for them in your life. And when you meet them after many years (Thanks to Social Media), it never feels like talking to a stranger.

#5 The F.A.M.I.L.Y

The ‘fam’ can include one or more friends, depending upon your circle. They are the ones that your whole family knows about, because they are a part of the family as well. When you don’t respond to their calls, they just storm into your house, get themselves a glass of water, rant to your parents about you and drag you out of your room. These friends are also the ones who cover for you, since your parents trust them a lot. They also get invited to all the family gatherings by your parents, because you are like siblings.

#6 The Boyfriend/Girlfriend

Do you know that one best friend you have from the opposite gender? Yeah, that is the one I am referring to. This is the person that people always associate you with, because they see you spend a lot of time together. Everybody except for the two of you, ship you together. But you know how ridiculous that would be. You share your quota of fun experiences, be it helping with shopping or playing the role of a perfect wing person. You adore this friendship and value everything it has to offer.

#7 The Work Buddies

These are the friends that you got associated with, through some common task. Either you work together (colleagues), play some sort of a game in the same team together (online or offline), work for each other (clients) or you take some class together.

Your bonding with them is mostly based on talks about the policies and the senior management in your company (in the case of office buddies), or the teacher who gives too much homework (in the case of students), or a game update (in the case of gamers).

Your hangouts are mostly ‘work meetings’, ‘team outings’, ‘classes’ or a game of PUBG together (or COD if you hate PUBG). But you also make time to hang out with them outside of work. The work buddies are always a great company to be with.  

#8 The Mirror

This friend is literally like the mirror image version of you. You like Harry Potter? They love it too. You like Football? They are buying posters on Amazon. You watch Youtube videos of stand-up comedians? They are rushing to get tickets to a live show.  You are like identical twins, only mentally. You like and dislike the same things and your bond only gets stronger through your shared interests.

#9 The Third Circle

The Third Circle is a friend or a group of friends who are not within your close circle, but still go out of their way to meet you and keep the friendship going. They are somewhere lurking between acquaintances and friends. It is kind of like a ‘more than a friend and less than a lover’ situation with them. These are the ones you go to, when you have a mishap with your loved ones and want a third person perspective. You are super protective of them, to a point where most of your other friends don’t even know this circle. You may not be updated with each other’s lives as much, but you still make it to their birthdays and be there for them on their low days.

#10 The ‘Friend’

Oh you know! The ‘Friend’. The person you were glued to for many months or even years, until something silly happened and you broke up. The ‘friend’ is somebody that you have mixed feelings about. You don’t know if you love them or hate them. They are like a frenemy. Only, they are an enemy in real life and a friend in your heart. Even though you are not in good terms anymore, you still care about them and to an extent, love them. It is like a scar in your heart that never heals. This friend is a very important one, because they taught you a valuable lesson. The memories you had with them help you stay grounded. It is as if your whole life split into two parts after the breakup, before and after them.

Each friend in our life has a purpose. They are a part of it for a reason. Out of a million life possibilities, you somehow ran into them and became friends. That must surely mean something. The list above is inclusive of some of the common types of friends that we all probably have. If you do not have a particular type of friend, chances are, you may encounter them in the future. Do let me know in the comments if you can relate and also how many of these friends you have. For more posts like this, stay tuned to my blog.