When I think about friendships, I often realize that my best friends are usually not of the same age as me. They are either younger or older. And honestly, I believe this is what makes those friendships more meaningful.
Because when you surround yourself only with people of the same age, most of the time, they are thinking just like you. They are facing the same kind of problems, living the same kind of phase in life, and their advice or perspective doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
But when you make an older person your best friend, things start to feel different. Older friends carry experience, they have seen more of life than you, and they can tell you about mistakes that you can avoid. When you are in your lows, when you are confused or broken, they can guide you through it with their wisdom.
It could be your elder brother, your father, or even your grandfather - if you make them your best friends, you will realize they can teach you about life in a way no book or lecture ever can. Their words are not just advice; they are experiences lived by them, and that makes them far more powerful.
On the other hand, when you make friends younger than you, they bring a different kind of value to your life. Younger friends remind you that no matter how old you become, you should never let your inner child die.
So, in a way, both kinds of friendships are equally important. Older friends give you direction when life feels heavy, and younger friends bring you back to joy when life feels dull.
So, in a way, both kinds of friendships are equally important. Older friends give you direction when life feels heavy, and younger friends bring you back to joy when life feels dull. Together, they balance you.
They make you realize that growing older is not about losing your childlike happiness, and staying young is not about being careless. It is about combining wisdom with innocence.
For me, this is the real value of friendships. It is not about who is of the same age, or who spends the most time with you. It is about who adds true value to your life.
If you only stay in your circle of same-age friends, you may feel understood, but you will rarely grow. But the moment you step out and connect with people older and younger than you, your mind opens in ways you never thought of.
In the end, friendship is not just about fun and spending time. It is also about learning, guiding, and sharing the best parts of life with each other. And that’s why I believe having younger or older best friends is one of the greatest gifts you can have.