WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

 WHAT KIND OF FRIEND ARE YOU?

Adult friendship can be hard. There are ways to make it easier because we all need our social health. Connection is essential - not optional. All of us deserve friends in our lives.

The author, Kasley Killam, of The Art and Science of Connection, bases her work on research at The University of Pennsylvania and an award-winning initiative at Stanford University that promotes kindness and empathy. It is all about why social health is the missing key to living longer, healthier, and happier.

Strong friendships lower your risk for chronic disease, give your life more meaning, and make you happier.

She has named the four different kinds of friends. One is not better than another - they just help in knowing more about your friends and how they react. It also helps in knowing what kind of friend you are to others.

Think about which one may be a description of yourself. The first one is the butterfly. They like to flit around, as butterflies do from flower to flower and pollinate. Usually enjoys having lots of friends. They like to talk to anyone about anything. Lots of deep interactions.

Secondly, there is the evergreen. They tend to like frequent, DEEP interactions with basically close friends - not just anyone. They do like a lot of interactions, though, with their close friends, and they want them to be deep.

The next type is the firefly. They like less frequent interactions because they need some time alone to recharge, but they do like deep interactions. They are someone who prefers less frequent interactions and sometimes finds it hard to pin down for a coffee or a lunch date - just to get out of the house. Once they do get out they are enjoy being out with their friends.

Then there is the wallflower. They prefer less frequent interactions that are also more casual. They tend to enjoy sitting back and watching or listening before joining in for interactions. They are much more casual.