It used to be thought that friendships were based on similar ages. During childhood, this was true. Same school, same exams, same rush. Life placed friends side by side and relationships emerged from spatial and temporal proximity. But as we move toward adulthood, we realize age is no longer a determining factor. Most cases point out that the most meaningful friendships often arise from significant age differences. This has also been true in my life; most of my close friends were older and this created a feeling that was βcomplementary rather than strange.β
Modern developmental psychology confirms that until the age of 20, friendships are often peer-centered because they facilitate identity formation. However, after our 20s, people seek changes such as emotional clarity, intellectual breadth and existential flexibility.
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