We all have different tastes, personalities and temperaments, and this makes us choose our friends according to characteristics of affinity and attraction. Many times we have as a friend someone very similar to us. Sometimes people, who are very different, become friend despite these differences. Nevertheless, we are attracted to certain kinds of people and we used to stay away from certain type of people.
I was looking at my friends list on “Facebook” and I realized that those 430 fellows were not exactly friends. Technological development has enabled us to be part of a global world where everything is at hand reach; you can meet tons of people, in the world, just from your laptop. That is why, we managed to have a closer relationship with a friend who lives in Europe, South America or Asia and may not be so close to a cousin who lives in our city.
Certainly our bond with some friends is tight and with others is just occasional. I tried to categorize my friends in different types: the co workers and class mates, the online friends, the hang out cousins´, the close friends, the best friend, and the significant-other friend. These types depend on how close they are to my heart and if I share with them my thoughts and my feelings.
Type 1: Co workers and class mate’s
They are my friends because I work or go to school with them. I spend several hours per day with them I know their first and last name, sort of know their character, and their basic likes and dislikes. I try to know a little about them, without encroaching on very personal issues, so we don´t have to talk only about work or school.
We always have friendly and superficial talks which ensure a stress free and stable work/class environment.
Sometimes I have to hang out with my co workers in those “get together” sessions of the Human Resources Department.
Type 2: The online friends
This is a new type of friend; people whom I barely know, other whom are close friends in distance. They make me realize how much the world has changed. In virtual space are among acquaintances with friends you know but you do not have either time or possibilities to interact with.
Here I see friends that I had studied with, friends I had met on a trip, friends who I could have a little more time to know.
Online friends always are in touch through distance. Virtual space is a place where my virtual friends help me to find out which are the trends in culture, arts, philosophy, music and politics.
Type 3: My hanging out sisters and cousins
My sisters and cousins are fun and entertainment partners, we are a bunch of 15 or 20 just like a tribe. We like going together to parties, concerts, carnival, karaoke, tours or cruises. We built the group according to similarities in entertainment.
It´s not an exclusive family group, everyone is allowed to bring his/her own friends to join us except for the “just for the family” activities, like Christmas or New Year when we all bring our parents, husband/wife and children. This meetings are so crowded, that can be scary for the youngest, whom usually get confused about who is an aunt, who is a cousin, and so on
We spend great time together, we take care among us. Sometimes, we can be very noisy that´s why we only go to noisy public’s events in order to be unnoticed.
The advantage about being relatives is that if someone got mad, it has to be solved, because a blood link cannot be broken down.
Type 4: The five cookies.
My close friends are a group of 5; we call ourselves “The Cookies”. We enjoy a lot when we are all together. I know them for long time ago, three are from college and one from my teens. I have shared memorable moments with them. Meetings are always a great time to share memories, we make jokes and laugh. Being together is like a big party.
They know all about my past. They are so close that my children love them as aunts.
This group of friends meet one day a month to have dinner, chat and keep in touch, we also celebrated birthdays together. I enjoy spending time with them and if I do not see them often, I miss them.
Type 5: My best friend
She is my closest friend in life. We like to talk by mail, skype, windows messenger or on the phone all the time. I can talk about anything for hours or spend the whole day with her, when she is on vacation in Panama.
We understand each other. She makes me feel good all the time, she cheers me up. I know that whatever happens, she will always agree with me, and will always stand by me. She was my maid of honor and she is my son´s godmother.
Being with my best friend is fun, intellectually and emotionally fulfilling. She makes me feel happy of being part of her life.
Type 6: My significant other
My husband, he´s the one I have chosen to establish a draft long-term partnership and to share the rest of my life. We have had children together. He is the person who loves me and whom I love the most. With him I can be always myself. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy. My life is complete because of him.
