You're going to make a lot of friends through the course of your life. They are all individuals who bring unique qualities to the table and it is important to understand them not just as "types of friends," but as individual and complex people, all bringing a variety of traits, dreams, and ideas to the table. However, there are roles in everyone's life that needs to be fulfilled. We all have needs that certain friends meet. With those needs in mind, here are 10 types of friends everyone should have:
1. The friend who keeps you laughing
We all have that friend that is all jokes -- the friend that makes you laugh until your sides hurt. This friend might not be the first person you'd turn to if your cat died, but they're the first to get you to crack a smile when you're ready.
2. The friend who keeps you on top of things
Everyone needs a friend who reminds them about important events and motivates them. This friend might remind you about a test or make you clean your room. They're basically the mom of your friend group.
3. The spontaneous friend
This is the friend who plans a spur of the moment road trip or helps you break into a zoo. This is the friend who climbs on rooftops or steals high-quality pencil sharpeners from classrooms. This is the friend who keeps things interesting.
4. The voice of reason
With every spontaneous friend comes the obligatory voice of reason. Someone has to be there to keep the spontaneous friend from getting arrested. This friend isn't boring, they just help the group avoid trouble. This is the friend who advises against robberies and reckless activities that will undeniably end in injury. This is the friend who calls an Uber to avoid driving drunk or comes up with safe ways to find the same thrill the spontaneous friend seeks.
5. The friend who keeps it real
We all have a friend who is unapologetically blunt. This friend might not tell you what you want to hear, but they'll tell you what you need to hear. They're are 100 percent committed to undiluted honesty, for better or worse. They'll tell you if they dislike your outfit and they'll tell you how they really feel about the person you're dating. They're always there when you need an honest opinion, and that can be a really valuable attribute.
6. The friend who is emotionally supportive
Hopefully all your friends are supportive to some extent, but everyone has one friend that is better at comforting than the rest. This is the person you turn to during break ups. This is the person whose shoulder you can cry on. This is the person who makes you comfortable with being vulnerable and open about your emotions.
7. The friend who teaches you new stuff
Whether it's how to speak a new language or how to play an instrument, it is so fulfilling to have a buddy who teaches you the things you've always wanted to learn. Not only are they cheaper than guitar lessons, but they also get you more excited about these new hobbies or skills because you can enjoy them together.
8. The friend who takes you out of your comfort zone
It is also necessary to have that friend who brings up difficult topics or encroaches on territories no one else would even think to. This friend will make sex jokes about your parents or suggest games of strip poker. This friend is the most fun during games of truth or dare. This friend makes you constantly uncomfortable, but never in a bad way. They're fun because they provide experiences you are not used to, which helps you grow as a person.
9. The friend who keeps you up to date
We all need that friend who fills you in. The friend who says things like, "Did you hear what Trump said in the last GOP debate?!" These people make you feel comfortable admitting that you didn't catch the debate last night or that you weren't aware of a major event in the news. They'll fill you in and save you from having this awkward interaction with a stranger later in the day. This friend also keeps you politically correct. They'll call you out when you're being offensive, so you can avoid doing so in front of people your words may hurt.
10. The friend who never judges you
Everyone needs a pal who they can talk to without receiving judgement. Hopefully none of your friends are judgmental, but a friend that wholly and unconditionally accepts you for who you are can be rare. This friend makes you comfortable enough to spill your guts. You can tell them the deepest secrets you have never told anyone. You can tell them you made out with someone unconventional or that you ate an entire bag of Doritos during a 30 minute television show. The non-judgmental friend won't even blink an eye. Sometimes you need to share these inconvenient truths with someone who will, without hesitation, support and accept you afterward.
