Every now and then I think back to when I was a child. I especially think about the friends I had. It makes me a bit nostalgic, because I miss some of those people. They were actually positive influences in my life. They helped me deal with bullies, overcome conflict, and even made me a better person. I wish they were still in my life.
The truth is; we all still deal with bullies. We deal with conflict. And we need to become better people. So wouldn’t it be cool if we could find folks to fill those roles we’re missing now that we’re adults?
Here are some childhood friends I think everyone should still have in their lives.
1. The friend who ate paste.
This kid didn’t judge anyone. If you ate your booger, he was right there beside you cheering you on.
I think we all need a friend like that in our lives. We need someone who will cheer us on, stand beside us, and curb their judgment. “You want to write a book? You should totally do that!” I know I need more people like that in my life. Don’t you?
2. The friend who got you into trouble.
Granted, this kid was at times a bad influence, and your parents probably tried to get you to stay away from this kid. But what he did for me is teach me how to take risks. The results might have not been good, and I had to use judgment to decide whether or not their idea was a good one…
But I want more people in my life who push me to take risks. There’s nothing wrong with getting into a bit of trouble now and then.
3. The friend who kept you out of trouble.
At the same time, we all needed someone who was our conscience, combatting the kid that got us into trouble. Maybe we don’t need this when it comes to our dreams, but we certainly need this kid when dealing with friends or our spouse. “Maybe you shouldn’t say what you’re thinking right now. Maybe you should just keep quiet.” I certainly need that kid sitting on my shoulder, filtering my thoughts before I blurt them out and hurt others.
4. The cool, older kid that for some reason likes you.
No matter what your age, I think we all need someone older than us who’s watching out for us. They can mentor us and show us what the next stage of maturity looks like. If you don’t have someone older than you—someone you look up to—who can speak into your life, you need to find someone. Humble yourself and reach out to them. Reach out to the coolest older kid you know. Who knows? They might end up actually liking you and wanting to be your friend too!
5. The imaginary friend.
Your imaginary friend was really your creative side. They could fly, or change shape, or fit into a tiny box, or rest on your shoulder. And they probably changed superpowers almost daily, depending on what you needed from your friend for the stories you were creating.
I think we all still need that imaginary friend—that creative side of us. Now, I wouldn’t recommend you tell anyone about your imaginary friend, because that might get you locked away. But a friend like that will get your imagination going again.
So that’s my list of friends from my childhood I still need. What friend would you add to the list? Who’s the kid you wish was still in your life?
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