Friends for Seasons

Some say that there are 19 kinds of friends, while others say there are only 3 kinds of friends. I Think there are more than 3 but there are less than 19.
In the following paragraphs (in no particular order) I will try to explain what I feel are the different types of friends and why they come and go from your life.

The childhood friend. - Most of these friendships arise from our parents friendships we are forced to play together and invite them to birthday parties. I'll never forget some of these friends from my childhood some of them are still what I would call an old friends.

The teenage friend. - These friends are a little harder to describe. Some of them are true friends, they like you for who you really are and not what your status. These are few and far between and if you are lucky enough to find one of these they are likely to stay your friend for the duration of your life. While others can be users who take advantage of you for something you have or have to offer. You can also be a user.

The college friend. - These friends typically become life long friends. They are built around some of the most memorable times in your life. They are built upon your area of study. Your exploration of religion, politics, and the adult life. Where I am from most people Date to Marry in college so these friendships are built and strengthened around this process. The life changes and experiences help to determine what kind of person you become and those that experience these times along with you are typically your friend for life.

The Professional Friend - These are your coworkers and associates you deal with in your professional life. Allot of times they are the ones you vent about your boss to. The ones you attend happy hour with. The network connections you make. They say that life is all about who you know and who they know and they aren't kidding. Typically you find your jobs thru your professional friends and the connections that they have.

The Seasonal Friend - The friend that is sent from God to see you thru a season in your life or so that you can see them thru a season. They are typically in your life for only a season. However sometimes out of the situations you make life long friends.

The true friend. The gold standard of friendships. A true (best) friend listens but never judges, helps you out of a jam, tells it to you straight, and often forgives a debt. They are there when you need them no matter what time of day you call. True friends are also your confidant, someone who wheedles more out of you than you planned to share.

The special interest friend. The friends you meet over a shared interest, such as a craft, a sport or a hobby. They can be your drinking friends, your shopping friends, your adrenaline junkie friends, etc.

I know that I have friends in all of the above categories, some of them fall into multiple categories. I couldn't live without any of them. They have all served a purpose in my life and played a role in the person I have become today. I hope that I have served to better there lives in some way.
You will learn about most all of them in blogs to follow.