Friends, There are Many Different Kinds of Friends

There are many definitions of friendships and even though each one is easily defined they intertwined a bit along the way. I 'd like to start out by defining some of the different types of friends I have encountered and some of you may have as well.

• Fair Weather Friends: you know the type that love on you, flatter you, hang out with you aas long as you are up and full of life. The fair weather friend likes to enjoy you when your up but run like the wind when you are down. They don't want to hear your troubles they have enough of their own. They are a surface friend. Love on the outside, indifference on the inside. There okay to have around but I wouldn't count on them they won't be there.
• Fly by Night Friends: These friends hang out with you enjoying your company and what you have to offer and take advantage of the money you might have or the things you might have and all day long they tell you how they can't believe they found a friend like you. Once you part though, don't count on ever seeing them again as they are out of here. They aren't capable of being friends, they want to be just can't handle the feelings and commitment.
• Hob Nob Friends: These cute little fellers are the life of the party when they think there's something in it for them. They go around rubbing elbows with everyone you know with money or fame in hope of getting noticed. They secretly want fame and fortune but don't want to earn it on their own. They mistakenly think they can steal their way to the top.
• Drama Seeker Friends: These are the ones that hang out at the first sight of trouble leaning on every last tear. They tell you how sorry they are for you and give you an ear full of their own troubles. They are drama fiends. They really don't help you out or offer any kind of solace. They just want to be around when all your real friends surround you in hopes they might get a pat on the back or two for being such a great friend. When the going gets tough they up and run.
• Work Friends: These guys are great. They share their hopes and dreams with you sometimes. They complain about the boss to you or how their co worker dumps all the work on them. They talk about what a great life they have sharing with you all their parties and fun. These friends many times will tell you to call them anytime. They never seem to answer the phone. They can't be bothered. They really only want you while you're at work to waste away their time when they really should be working.
• Soul Friends: These are the friends that seem real wonderful. They are just like you. Everything you like they like. When you change your hair they want to change theirs. It's kind of fun to hang out with them for a while but there's no real depth to this friendship and the next thing you know another someone comes along that is cooler than you and there they go. You are the one that is forgotten, they have no need for you anymore.
• Dirty Scoop Friends: These are the friends that aren't friends at all. These you should make a mental note to stay as far away from them as you possibly can. They call you and stop by to talk and tell you every little bit of drama going on around in everybody else's lives. No one is sacred. You are always the only one that knows and you better not tell anyone else the deep dark secret or something bad will happen. Make sure you don't share anything with this friend you don't want the world to know.
• Shallow or Selfish Friends: These are the ones who extract everything they can from you. They take take take but the minute you ask anything of them they lay the big guilt trip on you. No one has life as bad as them. The constantly one up you everytime you have a problem. There is no friendship in this one and my advice is to run as fast as you can from this blood sucking person.
• True Friends: These are the friends that are with you when you are down. You can sit together for hours and not say a word and yet you feel like you had a complete conversation. You may not see them for years but the minute you see each other its like the day they left. You never have to ask this friend for help, they just show up. They are always there and I mean always there. If they can't be there they make sure someone is. They cry with you and some will die with you or for you. These are the friends I like to collect. The ones that share their cares with you, these are True Friends. They laugh when you laugh and rejoice when you rejoice. They are a treasure and you better care for them like a treasure for they are few and far between.

The above list is by no means all the different types of people that will walk in and out of your life but there is enough to make the point.

I've said it before and i'll say it again. To have good or great friends you have to be a good or great friend. Friendship is a two way street. It is give and take. You don't keep score. If you are really practicing friendship then you can't keep score for it is so on going.

A friend is someone who will take a risk with you or stop you when you are making a mistake. They make fools out of themselves in a manner of speaking to protect you or stand up for you. Friends share the last bite of their snickers with you.

When you think of someone from your past and your heart is stirred and you find them again on facebook or run into them in person that warm fuzzy you feel is friendship. Sometimes you don't know how much someone meant to you until they are gone. Find out before that happens as it is difficult to live with regrets.

I hear people say all the time, " I don't need friends, I can make it on my own ". that is a lie. They are deceiving themselves. It is lonely alone. I find kindred spirits in all walks of my life and I cherish them and savor them. They are all God given. From the smallest of persons to the older and dieing, don't forget to treasure them.

You've got a friend.