Who run the world? GIRLS!
Beyonce
I was on a group chat with some of my longest friends a couple of days ago and one of them was having a hard time with their oldest child and telling us about it. It was clear the more that we all chimed in to offer our support how much we were each seeking some form of reassurance, in this crazy stage of life together. It was then that I was reminded of just how not alone we were in each of our individual parenting journeys & leaning on each other that morning was just what each of us needed.
So, as most of these little inspirational moments for me go, it really got me thinking about girl friendships & the importance of community. There is something special that exists when you can find your people who just get you. When there is no judgement to speak hard truths, when there is profound understanding amongst each other & when there is laughter and joy that is unmatched by almost anything.
I am lucky enough to have this community in many different facets of my life that have helped make me who I am today. They have held me up when I couldn’t do it alone & made me laugh til I cried (or peed my pants) & I want to spotlight some of them.
When I was growing up, there were three families that essentially helped to raise each others kids every summer. Between the families there were six girls and as we have all grown into adulthood, we are now family and refer to each other as the ‘summer sisters.’ We live all over the country and all have vastly different lives, but we show up for each other, no matter what. They have an imprint on my heart forever and helped mold me into the person I am now.
When I graduated college, there were eight of us girls who were close and committed to staying in touch, although all of our lives were also wildly different. We were headed in completely different directions & were moving all over the world. Thus the ‘besties’ text group chat was created. Here we are 13 years post college and completely and utterly entrenched in each others lives. We have been in each others weddings, married each others siblings (ok only 1 person did that, but still), traveled to be together after the babies were born and have gone to funerals together to hold each other up. We are a group that just gets each other, through every single life stage, and that will never change.
Finally, when I moved to Austin I made friends who very very quickly turned into sudo-family members. Austin was a time and place in Nathan and I’s lives when we were totally devoted to independence and figuring life out on our own. This city is also a very transient so many people who move there for work, don’t actually have a lot of family close by. We became each others family. We celebrated Friendsgiving’s together, exercised together, went to networking events together and then would show up on each others couches for entire weekends, just so we could be together. We couldn’t get enough. To all of my Austin people- I lived some of the best years of my life with you. You’re stuck with me & I will cherish you forever.
I know that everybody listed above will always be in my life. The beautiful thing about us girls, is that we are all so wildly different and in completely different places in our life, but it doesn’t change a thing. I also believe that, with time, there will be more and more meaningful friendships to come and the circle will only continue to expand.
Put time, money and effort into your girls. Check in on each other, go on girls trips, send each other memes or care packages & text/call when you have time. Friendships that matter, should be easy & the community and support that comes from them, is unrivaled. For me, solid girl friendships are sacred and worth fostering, forever. This will look different for everyone, but I can promise you with every ounce of my being that the juice is worth the squeeze.
I hope that reading this you have meaningful and lasting friendships that you can think of. I hope that you have a community to turn to when times are tough and even better when times aren’t tough. If you don’t, I encourage you to find it. Join groups, talk to someone next to you at a yoga class, get coffee with a neighbor. Be the first to make the effort. Friendships can take place any time and at any stage of life, if you are willing to seek it out.
So, let’s hear it for the ladies!! Reach out to your people. Tell them they matter and you are grateful for them. Life can be hard, so be the reason someone smiles today.
To all my girls, thank you for constantly making my world a better place.
I’ll love you forever. Xo
Elliott's Journey 