As much as I would love to be a person that goes to parties and has a couple of drinks and has a nice time, that doesn't work for me. I'd just rather sit at home and read, or go out to dinner with someone, or talk to someone I love, or talk to somebody that makes me laugh.
-Daniel Radcliffe

As we get closer and closer to the Thanksgiving holiday, it's good to take the time to consider all of the people you are thankful for. Of course it is important to always be thankful for them, but as the days get shorter and the year draws to a close, it's good to take a step back and reflect on your year and the relationships you have formed. Below I have listed different categories of relationships I have personally formed and although there may be many other categories of talking, these are the ones who stick out the most to me. Thank you for all of the good you have brought into my life! :)
The Twin: This person has been with you through thick and thin and might even know what you will do before you even do it. You both were raised with similar backgrounds and you might come from the same family or your family has become their family. Talking is not even needed with this person. You know how they feel and they know your heart. This is your best friend and you wouldn't trade them for the world.
The Adviser: Financial, work, relationships...it doesn't matter, this person is who you go to for help and support. They are the superhero of your life and you value their opinion above all others. They may be a step ahead of you and can provide a mentor relationship or they have just seen a lot of life experiences and can help guide you around potential obstacles. This person has your best interests in mind and it is very important to choose this person wisely.
The Diary: You can unload all of your stories onto this person and they will listen intently. Oftentimes it is a one-way conversation, but they want to know it all. This may also go the other way where you are the listener and they share their experiences. This person is perfect for vent sessions, sharing secrets, and just allowing you to let it all out. Not one detail shall be skipped and all emotions will be shown. There are no filters with this person and you know that everything can be shared. This is often a great person to have as a counselor because they love you so much, but will also silently guide you to where you need to be.
The "Anti-you": Where you see a 9, they see a 6. Although this person can frustrate you to no end and it would be so much easier to just have them as your arch-nemesis, hold onto them! They see the world through a different lens. It is often very important to have this person around in order to bounce your ideas off of them and have them shine a light on something you never saw before. Having them around all the time may be disheartening because on the surface they are not there to support you, but by constantly challenging your way of thinking, they are actually developing you into a much "fuller" person. They are the yin to your yang and they will keep your world oddly balanced in the end.
The Camouflager: This person is your perfect match and can fit any of these categories depending on what kind of discussion you need. They will be there to challenge your ideas if they know you need it, they will let you describe your day with every detail, they use their experiences to help guide you and they also know you better than you could ever understand. When you pick up the phone, you never know which role they will fill, but you will fill their needs as much as they will fill yours. When you both don't have any needs to fill, there is no telling what kind of randomness may pursue.
The Potential: Never overlook this person! This is the student sitting by themselves, this is the stranger you have never seen, this is the person with all the hidden potential! They are a mystery to you because you don't know them yet. They might be the ones who need the most help. The first step is to reach out that hand and be a friend. Start a conversation with a stranger. You never know if they will be someone you will be thankful for when Thanksgiving rolls around again.
Question time: Do your friends follow these categories? What other categories can you think of?