You may have a dozen or more best friends in your age group, but they aren’t always your best friends. You may not agree, but billionaires Ratan Tata, Ed Sheeran, Kourtney Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, and many others do. They found their best friends in people decades younger or older than them.
While best friends often consist of people in the same age group, there are many who have inter-generational besties, and this tribe is only growing. What can inter-generational besties do that friends in the same age group can’t? Among all the activities that friends in the same age group engage in, inter-generational friends can perform significantly better. Don’t believe? Try it out.
Being 37 years old and having friends from various age groups, Arouba Kabir, an emotional and mental health professional and founder of Enso Wellness, always advocates having inter-generational friends. “It comes with tremendous benefits for mental health and overall well-being,” points out Arouba, whose youngest friend is 27 and her oldest is 53, which she describes as highly beneficial. Arouba says inter-generational friendships bring together different life experiences and viewpoints, enriching understanding and perspectives, which helps broaden the horizons of acceptance.
Additionally, there is mutual learning. “In such a fast-paced world, our younger friends introduce us to new trends and technologies, while our older friends can offer wisdom and life lessons,” she says. She feels s.