The 6 Friends You Didn't Know You Needed

~ a definition ~

aficionado, n. :  a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity :  devotee

   You could call me a friendship aficionado, minus any semblance of expertise. Isn't it fascinating to pay attention to the ins and outs of what makes friendships work? How can two different people choose to be in camaraderie? How do they work together for common goals and help each other through life?

     Friends come in so many forms, but here are six unusual friends you might have.* It's even possible that these friends are combined in some of your friends.



The 24/7 Friend ~ This is the friend who knows every quirk about you. You can pick up the friendship at any time; you know they'll be there for you no matter what. The 24/7 name comes from the fact that you could call them any time of day or night, and they would be there for you. You'll always have each other's back.

The Sounding Board Friend ~ This is the friend with a different personality and perspective on life. You might get into lively debates about things, but through it all, you know they have your best interests at heart. This friend gets its name from the fact that you always bounce new ideas off of them and aren't scared to ask for their honest opinion.

The Close Friend ~ This is the quieter friend who opens up around just you. You two could talk for hours and often lose track of time. You agree on the most important things, even if there isn't the same camaraderie expressed in other friendships.You might have to challenge this more introverted friend to get out of their comfort zone, but they will go along with it because they trust you. This friend's name, "close friend," comes from the fact that you have a deep understanding of one another.

The Maternal/Paternal Friend ~ This is the friend that looks out for you and care about you like their own child. Whether they are older or your peer, they will ask intense questions about your well-being, never satisfied by an "I'm fine." You know you're safe to vent around them because they hold everything you say in confidence. The maternal/paternal name comes from the caring and responsible way they tend to your emotional needs.

The Wild Friend ~ This is the friend who values your rawest, craziest self. This friend will virtually ignore you if you're being serious or trying to hold a normal conversation. However, the minute you want to have fun, they're there to help you have a good time and to be your best pal. The wild friend is so named for their tendency towards unleashing the real you and ignoring the polished you.

The Brave Sidekick ~ This is the friend who will defend you to others even though you don't have the personal touch of a typical friendship. They might not want to spend time with just you and may shirk from friend responsibilities. For example, this friend might never get you a birthday gift, but they will accompany you to classes, meetings, or parties even if you're the only person they know there. Because of this, it's more of a public friendship than a private one. The brave sidekick gets its name from all the oddly loyal things they do because of an inexpressible connection they feel toward you.

     There is no perfect friend. Some people can only handle certain sides of your personality or can only show certain levels of loyalty.

     I know these aren't the typical or ideal friends we think of (eg. the funny one, the smart one, the leader, the quiet one, etc.), but they are friends we're more likely to find.

     These are the six friends you didn't know you needed. I certainly didn't know I needed them.

     Do any of your friends fall into one or several of these categories? Or do you maybe see yourself as mainly a certain type of friend? (I know I tend to be the maternal friend.)

     Let me know in the comments below. :)

~Madeline