the types of friends we should have ... maybe

Today we are figuring out the type of friends we should have. As I am sure you would agree … there are several different types of friends and we all fall into at least one category. What difference does it make? I have no idea … other than it is good to know.

First, years ago I read a book about life and friendship. It was a great book on how to live life fully, wildly, happily and with no real regrets. In this book, the author said we should all have nine friends: three older than us as mentors to us, three younger than us to look up to us and for us to mentor and three our own age to grow older with, together. I like that and have tried to do that. So far, however, I have not succeeded at the perfect nine.

Just the other day, however, I read an article that said we all need at least five friends: an older/mentor friend who has been where you are, a younger/mentee friend who is like a younger sister, an “old” friend who has known you forever and knows all about you and your family, a “deep” friend who is full of wisdom and sagacity and willing to share, and an “unexpected” friend who is full of surprises, can pull you out of the doldrums and make you laugh when you least expect it.

Now, if you combine the second theory with the first, you get at least one older friend (mentor), one younger friend (mentee), one your age (old friend) and two to play around with (deep and unexpected). 

 Not bad … if you agree with these theories and are willing to try to have the friends they suggest. But, I have to tell you … one true friend is really all you need; especially if that is all you have, whether by choice or by circumstance.