Friendships between really different people take more work and usually teach you more.

Friction and education come from the same place. A friend who shares your opinions, background and schedule is easy and teaches you very little, while somebody who differs from you requires actual translation: you have to explain yourself, check your assumptions and sit with the fact that a reasonable person sees it another way. The extra effort is the curriculum.

Spend real time with one person this week who is not like you, and ask about something you have never understood about their life. Listen past the first answer. Resist the urge to correct them, which is the whole exercise.