We woman all know there is a certain therapeutic value of just hanging with the girls for a few hours. A whole girls’ weekend or vacation together can refresh your soul like not much else. As I look over my life I’ve always managed to find some girls with whom to share “sisterhood”. You’ve probably heard the saying “people come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime”. And as cliché as it sounds, it’s profoundly true. People come into our lives at different times for different reasons. They might teach us something or guide us through a difficult situation. They might be there just to share a certain phase of life like childhood, high school or a divorce. And then there are the ones who never leave your life even if they leave your regular company. We communicate with them regularly and will always do so. But no matter why or when they show up they figured importantly in your life at that time and hold a special place in your heart. With all of today’s social media it’s easier to continue contact with people or regain contact with people. It can be nice to reconnect with some people from past seasons of your life. Some you realize were better left in the past. So we once again disconnect.
When I was growing up there was only one other girl on my street of all boys. We talked about everything from which boy we liked and how unfair our parents could be, to grades, siblings and which new boy we liked. But most of the time it didn’t matter what we talked about as long as we were talking…together. Isn’t that all we really need; to just be together for a while. That first girlfriend and I thought we’d be the proverbial “best friends forever”. I have not seen or spoken to her in over 25 years. Our lives took drastically different paths once I graduated from college and began following my wanderlust. Life happens, doesn’t it? Our season together was over. However, I’m sure that if I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with her there would still be some connection that would allow us to share a bit of our lives once again. Once you’ve shared a bit of your soul with your girlfriends they carry it with them for the rest of their lives. And when you again have the opportunity to talk together you can rewarm that bit of your soul and savor the moment and the memory.
When it comes to my “lifetime girlfriends” I am as staunchly loyal to them as they are to me. I have one girlfriend from high school who would fit in that category. She has always been there for me in a crisis and for fun and I would do the same for her. In college I met several girlfriends who fit this category as well. These are the kind of friends you can go without talking to for ages and pick up right where you left off without judgment or guilt. That’s not to say there have not been bumps in the roads of these relationships. There were times we didn’t like each other much and sought out others. But we always returned to the friendship in person or spirit like our own magnetic north.
I spent 12 years in the female dominated business of direct sales. There was never a shortage of girl friend time in that world. For me it was “the meeting after the meeting” that was the best part. Another of my truest friends, who is so awesome, came from this place in my life. For those years I was fortunate enough to be able to combine a business with girlfriend time that even included regular travel together. Then there are my girlfriends from tennis. With our group “tennis” usually didn’t end when the court time was over. At least once a week we went to lunch that lasted for hours. We also had built in girls’ weekends when we would travel out of town for tournaments. In that group I met another sister whose soul is as full of wanderlust as my own.
Now I am in yet another new place in life and again I have found women with whom I share sisterhood. We call it wine night, but it’s not at all about the wine. It’s about spending time in the company of other women. It occurred to me that my life always seemed to have a system in place to facilitate these types of relationships for me until I moved here. So I have naturally sought them out and look forward to the new experiences these women will bring to my life. Although I have not been here long I know I have already found a few more soul sisters who will remain in my heart long after we have been sent off in different directions.
So if you’ve had a bad day, a fight with your man, (or woman if that’s your path) kids getting under your skin or you just need to vent about your boss? Then good girlfriends are what you need. Ones who will laugh with you until your sides ache, cry with you when your heart breaks and can be trusted to keep your venting to themselves. They may offer advice and you may offer advice. Some advice you will wisely take, some you will wisely ignore. They will support you and if they are really good girlfriends they will set you on the straight and narrow when you stray. Honestly, it doesn’t matter why we gather, just that we gather. The support is understood. So to my girlfriends all over the world, I raise my glass to you and rejoice in the sisterhood of knowing you.
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