When I was a young girl, I quickly realized that girls can be 'catty' and mean. You’ve probably seen the movie ‘Mean Girls’. Need I say more? Learning that not everyone wants to be your friend was not an easy one. But, on the flip side, it taught me to make friends with girls who I could trust and count on. By the time I was fifteen years old, I was surrounded by a gang of amazing girls who I knew had my back. We were an unlikely bunch of girls from youth group who became known as ‘upstate girls’. I won’t go into the story behind the name, but let me assure you that these were my ride or die girls.
Many years have passed, and some of those same women still remain in my life to this day. Because of those friendships, my desire to connect with women on more than a superficial level has allowed me to make the most amazing friends. I consider many of them my confidantes, sisters, and those who I turn to during the best and worst of times. Over the seasons in my life some have come and gone, but one thing has remained constant. They have taught me more about life than I could ever have imagined.
There may be some of you that read this and immediately wish you had a group of women in your life that you could call your squad. Some of you may have one or two really close friends. And, that may be all you need. Others of you may not know how to really be vulnerable in that kind of relationship. Allow me to share with you some of the lessons I have learned from my girl squad.
You'll never stand in the ring alone.
Life is messy, and the fight can be long and painful at times. But, when we are surrounded and supported by our squad we will never have to stand in the ring alone. They will be there to pick us up when we are down, and to tell us to keep fighting when we need to get our breakthrough.
It’s ok to not be ok.
It can be hard to admit defeat and disappointment, especially to those closest to us. But our real friends will allow us to be real and honest about where were are without condemnation. They also won’t let us stay there forever.
Everything is better after ice cream and laughter.
Why do we have to take everything so seriously? Sometimes we need to just fall apart and then fill up with ice cream and laugh with each other until we cry. At the end of the day, not every crisis we will have needs to be hashed out over and over. It’s ok just to be with one another and realize that this too will pass. And, then share a pint of ice cream. Or, in some cases a bottle of wine.
Let me ask you this. Who is investing into your life? And, who are you investing in? Maybe it’s been a while since you have given someone else permission to speak into your life. Trust me when I say that life is much better when you know your crew is by your side. They may not be perfect, but they will offer a fresh perspective that you just might need.
Together We Are Better!
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