Girlfriends rock! What would we do without them? Our girlfriends listen through the painful details, laugh so hard with us we cry, and cry with us until the laughter comes back. In short, they keep us sane and connected. They let us know we’re not alone as we navigate each phase of our life.
I know first-hand the value of girlfriends, both through this blog, and as I’ve been part of a tight-knit circle of six women who’ve maintained our friendship for over 30 years. It hasn’t always been easy, with moves, marriages, children, divorces, careers, and everything else that life brings. But we’ve always made the effort to nurture our friendships because as we grow older, we realize how valuable this connection is. That’s why we have made it a point to gather from our respective locations (one even journeys from Rome) and travel together every year for the past 21.
In fact, recent research from the Mental Health Foundation found that one in 10 people often feel lonely, and half think that people are getting lonelier in general.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to nourish our connections. After reading this, I hope you’re motivated to say no to something on your to-do list, and say yes to grabbing a girlfriend and go! It’s time well-spent. In fact, it’s an investment.