There are many different types of people, and in turn, many different types of friends. There are friends who challenge you to try new things, friends that always motivate you to do better and friends who make you laugh every time they see you. If you’re lucky, throughout your life, you will become friends with all sorts of people. Some of the friends you will meet will be a mix of these categories, and some will become an entirely new category of their own. However, there is one type of friend that is hard to come by, and yet, they are some of the most important people in our lives: the listener friends.

The listener friend is easily one of the most underappreciated friend types. They are almost always the transparent characters in your favorite Netflix shows. This is because they often selflessly put others before themselves, and they will be there for you for anything and everything. The listener friend will put up with your endless rants about midterms. They will answer your call at 1 a.m. after a bad breakup. The listener friend is someone who will be honest with you, even when the truth isn’t what you want to hear. A listener friend someone you make can good memories with, but they will be with you through the bad, too. Their friendship feels like a warm hug on a cold. It’s important to note that a listener friend’s sole purpose is not to listen to your problems or give you advice — it should never be. They might have a unique compassion and ability to make anyone feel heard, but this should never be taken for granted. By now, there is probably a person that came to your mind. If there isn’t, you probably are the listener friend.

So, to all the listener friends out there, you are the people that keep the world sane. I am a big believer in the idea that the best thing you can do for another person is to be there for them and try to make them feel heard. If you’re a listener friend, you are the embodiment of this idea. The world is lucky to have you: You remind us of our own empathy and keep us grounded. Listener friends, you are the type of friend we will remember for the rest of our lives. Everyone deserves to have a friend like you.

So, if you have a listener friend in your life, take a moment to remember how lucky you are to have them, and make sure they know you can be their listener friend if they ever need an ear. Take a special moment to thank them. To all the listener friends out there, thank you. I see you, and I appreciate you.