"Over my quarter-of-a-century existence, I truly have learned to appreciate how vital it is to have people you can rely on for various types of needs and advice. And similarly, how important it is to surround yourself with people who challenge you, take care of you, and look out for you. I often find myself getting all ~introspective~ and thinking about the effects people in my life have had on my character—especially the solid female friendships I have built. Not to mention how much joy and value they have all brought into my life as a whole in different ways.
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Each relationship with a friend is different from the next, and I’m sure you can attest to that, too, when thinking about your friendships. Whether I need a push to put myself out there in the dating world or simply need someone to vent all my daily musings to (which I have a lot of), I know exactly which friend to call.
Your friends should help you navigate all the trials and tribulations that life throws, as well as help you enjoy all the good parts of it, too. But life has many aspects and facets to it, and that often requires a solid group of people you can rely on for different things. With that being said, there are 10 types of friends that every woman should have, and we’re breaking them down ahead.
1. The opposite one
Opposites truly attract! Some of the most authentic relationships I’ve had have been with friends who challenge me and my thoughts and are always down for a good, healthy debate. Sweet versus savory? We will argue. Hailey Bieber versus Selena Gomez? We will argue. Politics? You guessed it, we will argue.
It’s not always fun little debate topics that make you polar opposites, though, but also the way you see the world on a deeper level. You can learn so much about different perspectives in life just by opening yourself to friends with different beliefs than you. And in turn, you can provide them with insight too. These friends are also amazing when it comes to introducing you to new activities and experiences that you might unexpectedly love.
2. The compassionate one
This is your therapist-like best friend. They are so good at being there for you that you feel like they should be billing you for sessions. They patiently listen to your full rants, sympathize with you, and help you get back to a calmer state of mind. This friend always offers up perfectly curated playlists of TED Talks to watch based on any moment of frustration or despair that you find yourself in, sends hugs via emojis, and knows how to insert a funny line or meme into their advice to get that tearful chuckle out of you. The compassionate friend will help you see more than one side to the problem, motivate you to try and become a better version of yourself, and will always keep you grounded.
3. The lifestyle one
If you have a gym buddy, a pottery class pal, or perhaps even a go-to travel companion, you have a lifestyle friend. These are the friends that you often have the most in common with, and you guys truly thrive in each other’s company. You meet eye-to-eye on most things and have very similar habits and preferences in terms of your tastes and budgets. They’re probably your go-to friend to send an “OMG! We have to try out that new restaurant in town” text to. Your time spent together is fun, lighthearted, and drama-free.
4. The tell-it-like-it-is one
We all have one friend who has absolutely no filter. They voice their opinions and observations and aren’t afraid to tell us what’s on their mind. These friends can often be a bit harsh and a tad out of line at times. But really, it’s their blunt honesty that made us love them in the first place.
We know we can always count on them for a true, unbiased opinion on a situation, and their decisiveness is always appreciated when we have to make complicated decisions. Friends like these are often some of the most loving people we can surround ourselves with, and they will always be around to keep us in check!
5. The 9-to-5 one
Need to take that break and step away from your work desk to go grab a coffee? This is the person you slack to tag along with you. You see them more than you see any other friends and share so much about your lives with them, often without even realizing how much you actually know about each other. They usually know everything from the tiniest details (like what ingredients you absolutely hate in your lunch salads) to the bigger, more serious personal issues.
It’s so easy to bond with these friends, especially over all the work drama and shared opinions on various people and projects. And let’s face it, we end up spending a good chunk (if not most) of our day just messaging them back and forth. They make going to work every day worth it!
6. The one you’ve known forever
Picture this: You make plans to meet your friend for dinner, not having seen each other in a couple of years, but then the second you both meet, you give each other a hug and instantly dive into everything. You pick up where you last left off like no time has passed at all! This is your forever friend.
Sure, you might not see each other regularly, but that doesn’t matter. This person was there throughout your childhood and all of those fun and awkward phases in between (and they loved you anyway!). You know that no matter how far away you live from each other or how often you meet, they will always be there for you.
7. The one in the family
Similar to “One You’ve Known Forever,” this is another person you’ve known your whole life. The only difference is that they are within your family. Whether it be a sibling, a cousin, an aunt, or even a parent (why not?!), there’s always that one BFF within your family who makes any big gathering a bit more bearable.
You can always count on them to keep you entertained during family events, and you often find yourself exchanging glances with this person when someone else says something funny or inappropriate. They have some of the best—often mortifying—anecdotes about you, and you guys have shared some of the most memorable experiences.
8. The outgoing one
Sometimes, you just want to get a good distraction from a current problem, purely enjoy yourself, and in the words of our queen Natasha Bedingfield, “release your inhibitions.” This friend is the one who tells you, “F*** that, we’re going out,” and demands you to put on that sexy outfit that she knows you’ve been hiding in the back of your closet for ages.
This friend helps you come out of your shell. They share some of their extroverted energy with you, are the ideal wing woman, and are the best person to have around when you just want a grand ol’ time. She’ll let you vent but will shut you up at the right moment. With them, you can just forget about the negative things making you spiral, grab some drinks, and dance the night away.
9. The sweatpants-and-messy-bun one
Ever have that urge to spend an entire weekend in your living room with the same pajamas on for three days straight, no bra, hair tangly and unwashed, and your latest obsession playing on TV? This is the friend who is laying perpendicular to you, being your slob mate (yes, that is slob soulmate).
You might already be roommates with this gem of a human, or you might call them up to make plans together to essentially have no plans together. Either way, they are your go-to pal to veg out with. You feel completely comfortable with this person, and they help you create that judgment-free zone in which you can just be lazy together, order pizza and Thai food (because you want both and you should have both), and binge-watch every episode of Selling Sunset.
10. The dependable one
If you had a murder to cover up, this is the person who’d help you do that—no questions asked. You likely have them on speed dial because you know that if anything happens, they would be the one human you can definitely count on to actually answer their phone. They are always willing to lend a hand (from driving you to the doctor to helping you build that complicated end table) and are truly someone you are grateful for being there during tough situations.
They are responsible, have a solid reputation for not flaking out on you, and are one of the best confidants. You can entrust them with your deepest and darkest secrets and know that they’ll take them to the grave. This friend is extremely giving and loyal, so make sure that they know how much they’re appreciated!