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Where would we be without our friends?  Let’s face it, as we grow older we need them more than ever. Yes, we love our spouses and family, but there’s something about a girlfriend that helps us see life differently. They open us up and change us for the better. Here are 8 kinds of friends I’m blessed to have…

Old friends – We sat beside each other in college Shakespeare. We went for drinks after work in our twenties. We’ve seen each other through weddings, baby showers, teaching teenagers to drive, and bad hair days. We’ve watched each other grow. We treat each other gently. We know our friendship is precious. We also know we’re in this for the long haul. We look forward to grandchildren and senior discounts. Having them in my life has been a gift.

New friends – Just when I think I’ve made all the pals I’m going to make, someone else comes along. Maybe it’s on Facebook or the local coffee house. We discover that we’ve each read Anais Nin’s diaries. We’re both moved by great art and annoyed at certain politicians. There’s something nice about finding a new friend later in life. They make me realize there’s no expiration date on meeting great people.

Funny friends – I can’t help it. They crack me up. If we were schoolgirls together, we’d always be in the Principal’s office. They swear like sailors and never hesitate to speak their mind. They love theme parties, inventing new vegetable dips, and Seth Rogen movies. They wear bright-colored lipstick and faux fur coats. They’re always sending out crazy videos, usually involving cats. They bring out something young and rebellious and fun. They teach me not to take life, or myself, too seriously.

Glamorous friends – Females aren’t sexy past a certain age? Sorry, these women didn’t get the memo. They still wear stilettos and perfume and form-fitting dresses. They love to flirt. They purr around handsome men. And yes, they still carry it off. They enjoy being a girl. And men respond to their fun, feminine charm. They inspire me to not hang up my party dress quite so fast. Don’t believe what we’re told by the media. There’s still life past forty…and fifty…and sixty…

Smart friends – I have friends who know everything. They know the best hotel in Taos. They know who to call for septic issues. They know the newest sushi restaurant in Cleveland. They know how to get an ink stain out of white furniture. They know the fastest subway to take if you need to get to Brooklyn. They’re practical and savvy. I think I know a lot till I’m with them and realize I don’t know anything. I love basking in their encyclopedic smarts.

Adventurous friends – Ice fishing in Minnesota? Hiking Machu Picchu? Sky diving? Where’s the sign-up sheet? I have friends who will do anything… and I mean anything. They’re brave and intrepid. They love life and live it fully. They don’t care if they’re older or female or scared. They answer’s yes, what’s the question? They teach me life doesn’t have to have boundaries. We’re only limited by imagination and confidence. They inspire me.

Brave friends – They’ve had a bad medical scare or terrible loss. They’ve shown what it’s like to pick up the pieces and go on. They still laugh and are kind. They’ve taught me happiness takes courage and is a choice. They’ve taught me that despite crushing challenges, life goes on. Its possible to find not only purpose, but joy. They’ve taught me to live in the moment and cherish what I have. They’ve shown what its like to meet heartache with dignity and grace.

Wise friends – They always have a nose in a book. They’re thoughtful and gentle. They’re quiet and introverted. They speak softly, but see everything. They’re the ones sitting in the corner who observe. Because they’re great seers, they’re full of insight and perception. They can sense things coming and are usually right. If I have something sad or emotional to work out, I go to them.

Yes, I’m blessed with wonderful friends. And many fall into several (if not all) of these buckets.  Whatever the case, I’m not sure where I’d be without them. You know who you are. Thank you for making my life richer.

 

How do you feel about your girlfriends?  If you liked this piece, feel free to press one of the magic share buttons below.  If you’d like posts sent to your email, just push the subscribe link above.  Thank you.

Comments(46)

    • Ann

    • 8 years ago

    Wonderful!!! This will be emailed to each and every one
    of my cherished friends! Thank you Laurie!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you, Ann. You’re both an aunt and a cherished friend!

  1. Loved this! I have a bevy of college girlfriends in town for the weekend. Some of us have kept in constant contact. Some of us haven’t seen each other for 25 years.

    Within that group, there are friends who then fall into subgroups – the wise, the glamorous, the funny. I just realized how hard it is to wait to see them!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Beth,

      Isn’t it funny how you can pick right up with certain people, like no time has passed? That’s the mark of a true friend.

  2. YES! All of these.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks Christine!

  3. And the older I get the more I’ve discovered I need every single one of these pretty much all the damn time 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Isn’t it the truth, Carla?

  4. Yes these are the gals that rock! A few of these are wrapped into one woman and that makes her all the more awesome.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      I know Jennifer. So many friends are mixtures of all these qualities.

  5. What a great post, Laurie. I wrote a post for HuffPost back in May about the difficulty in making friends as an adult. I like to think I am 7 of the 8 (2-8) friends listed above to my current friends, and all 8 to a new friend! Thanks for the wonderful post.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much, Valerie. So many girlfriends fall into most (if not all) categories. How lucky we are to have them.

  6. I have great girlfriends. While it gets more difficult to make friends the older we get, I make an effort to get to know smart, interesting women. What would we do without our girlfriends? Brenda

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you, Brenda. Couldn’t agree more.

  7. I love this! One thing that I’ve always tried to do is keep the friends who bring value to my life. From sharing memories to laughing. This list is basically “how to have the most dynamic friendship groups that is completely necessary” haha

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you, Stefania. Yes, its wonderful to have good friends. They definitely bring value to life.

  8. So true about girlfriends and I love all of mine! Love the categories.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you for reading and commenting, Cathy.

  9. It’s so true that we need all these type of friends to help us along in life. We are truly blessed when these woman are in are lives. I love how you put them into friends types and how some can fit into many if not all categories.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Lori, Its true how many friends fall into most (if not all) categories. What would we do without them?

  10. Yes x8. We need them all. Great round up!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thank you, Anna, for reading and commenting.

  11. I love this! Girlfriends are SO important on so many levels. My 2 college roommates and I go on a “moms trip” every other year and we’ve been doing it for about 12 years now. The best part? We live in 3 different states (Calif, Georgia, and Michigan) and MAKE it happen by saving our change for 2 years and letting our husbands know that we all need this mental health time. 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      I love female-only trips. They’re so different from husband trips. Both are fun, but there’s something more freeing in being with the girls. (Don’t tell my husband).

  12. Loved how you described them sometimes one friend us more than one of these descriptions and his precious they are. Great piece and I’m enjoying your blog as a whole

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Thanks so much, Lindi. So glad I got to know your blog today. Wonderful stuff.

  13. I definitely have the categories covered. But my frustration is that my GFs are worldwide mostly not local. Sigh.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Carol, I know, a lot of my friends have scattered too. Still, its wonderful to have so many blogging friends, virtual or not. They definitely fall into all theses categories.

  14. Girl friends are SUPER important in our lives, just think of the Golden Girls! They are there for each other through thick, thin, and cheese cake! 🙂 I have one REALLY good girlfriend and she is all of those things. Love would not be the same without genuine, close, girl friends.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Darlene, I think as we get older, we appreciate them more. I know I did. Men sometimes come and go, but the friends are always there.

  15. I love my girlfriends. My heart is still broken over one friend that died 2 years ago. She was smart, wise and old from your categories so you can understand my loss!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Oh Haralee, I’m so sorry. Lost a good friend last year myself and still can’t believe she’s gone. Your friend sounds like a wonderful person.

  16. I move about every 4 years, so I have to actively cultivate new friends. That can be exhausting, but it beats the alternative! Thanks for fleshing out various kinds of friends.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Karen, I think making new friends is a skill and probably gets better with practice. Good for you for being so brave.

  17. I love this! My sister and I were just talking about how important girlfriends are. It is so important!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Linda, I think as time goes on, these relationships get even more precious. I know mine do.

  18. Where would we be without our girlfriends? A scary thought! Terrific reminder to appreciate your friends.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Rena, I find they all teach different things. In that way, you probably bring different things to all your different relationships.

  19. I so agree. Since I write and train people in Myers-Briggs/personality research, I’ve become very intentional about the friends I seek out. This list is so true! We grow most when we are around a variety of people and personalities. Love it!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 6 years ago

      Teri, I love the Myers-Briggs test and find it fascinating. As an introverted INFJ, I need outgoing people in my life. They’re always fun and inspiring.

  20. Oh, my word, yes! I don’t know what I’d do without my precious friends! They keep me keeping on.
    And I count you as one of those new friends! <3

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Diane, I feel the same! Even though we live a country apart, I still feel a wonderful connection.

  21. What a fun post about friendship. It made me start to think about what category each of my friends would belong. I feel so lucky to have friends in many of the categories you describe.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 5 years ago

      Judy, Thank you. So many women I know fall into many (if not most).

  22. Still true! 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Yes, Paula!

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