Let’s talk about friends

-Cue: I’ll Be There For You-

So, I’m not referring to the iconic 90s sitcom. However, part of me wishes I were {future ideas brewing//maybe}. I’m talking friends in real life. The concept of friends is something I’ve visited a lot recently. I’m in my mid-twenties and I’ve started to notice definitive levels of friendships.

Breakdown:

Hi, my name is Aly and I’m a workaholic.

Now that, that’s been established let’s take a look at the first level of friends, shall we? Work friends. Once you’ve entered the workforce these friends become a prominent aspect of your life. I mean, how can they not? No matter what type of position you have, a good bit of your day can be spent working. Establishing friendships creates a better atmosphere. I believe this is the first level {at least in my mid-twenties} because these friendships seem rather surface level. With that being said, I’ve met some of the greatest people I know through work and I will be forever grateful. So, the idea behind surface level is simple; there usually isn’t real depth behind these friendships. You’re not necessarily going to divulge your deepest darkest secrets to those you work with, which is understandable. People come and go and it’s important to maintain a level of professionalism. It’s great to bond with these people, BUT sometimes you come away with friendships on deeper levels.

So, with that not so subtle transition we’re on to the next. Close friends. These are inner circle souls; the ones you’re comfortable with, the ones you share with, and you’re usual excursion companions. Creating a core group of friends is an essential, at least in my opinion. All the good, the bad, and most memorable moments are lived with close friends. I mean, who else are you going to call in the middle of the night with your pancake cravings?  Or binge your favorite shows for hours on end? There is a sense of relief knowing that there are people I can turn to at any point, but there is a bigger sense of relief knowing that there are people who will turn to me. As like most everything else in life; you get as good as you give.

With all of that being said, we’ve officially reached the 3^rd and final level of friendship. Best Friends. I know what you’re all probably thinking: “Aren’t close friends the same as best friends?” For some that may be true, but personally, I see a difference. Best Friends are those people who know you as well as you know yourself {sometimes better}. They’ve witnessed your lowest points and helped bring you back to your highest. In my personal opinion, these are the people who will always, ALWAYS be there. It doesn’t matter how long I go without seeing my best friends or how infrequently we get to talk, I know they’ll be there if I need them. Just like they know I’ll be there in a heartbeat.

Aside from realizing the definitive breakdown of friends, I’ve realized the number of friends means nothing compared to the quality of friends. Throughout the early years of my twenties, I’ve lost friends who I thought were not only some of my best friends but lifelong friends. It was a hard life lesson to learn, but it created a much deeper appreciation of the friends I still had. They’re the ones who will—be there for you!