Call it fate or just beautiful coincidence, but I love that In Her Company is launching on National Girlfriends Day, though a space designed to build meaningful and lasting relationships among women didn’t need a national day to begin. Over the past year, my friendships have become lifelines. Maybe it was having another baby and feeling entirely vulnerable and unsettled (y’all, the OB said I was “advanced maternal age”), or choosing to step away from a career trajectory I had long planned in order to have more time with my family, or grieving a friendship that came to an abrupt end last fall. No matter the catalyst, this blog, this new beginning, this fresh start—this is for the girlfriends.
This is for the girlfriends who see you. The well-planned dinner that gets scorched in the oven. They see that. The hair that sits piled high on your head because you haven’t made it to the shower yet today. Or yesterday. They see that. The husband who works late. The relationship that finally gives way. The baby who won’t latch. The work that won’t let up. The child struggling in school. Your girlfriends see all of that. And they make sure you know, without a doubt, you are not alone. You are seen. And you are loved.
This is for the girlfriends who applaud vulnerability. They declare a safe zone for your fears and your doubts and your what-might-have-beens. A sacred place where your story is worthy to be heard and affirmed and prayed over. Vulnerability begins with connection. And so your girlfriends ask questions, they listen, they uplift, and they tell the truth.
This is for the girlfriends who honor your brave. They know about the conversation you’re dreading. The life change you’re making. The counseling you’re seeking. The loss you’re grieving. The addiction you’re fighting. They remind you that just putting one foot in front of the other may be the bravest thing you do today. And then they pull on their walking shoes and come alongside you.
This is for the girlfriends who celebrate with you. They stand at the marathon finish line, the graduation stage; they decorate the birthday cake and bring the candles. They organize the girls’ weekend and wear the party hats. They celebrate the wedding vows, the potty training success, the last five pounds, the start of a new venture. These friends show you that gratitude can be found in the minutia of life, and they offer thanks when you cannot, until, at last, you can.
These friends show you that gratitude can be found in the minutia of life, and they offer thanks when you cannot, until, at last, you can.
There is a lot to be said about a true friend. Over time, I’ll speak more fully and practically about how to find, maintain, and grow into authentic friendships. I hope you’ll tune in with an open heart.
Happy Girlfriends Day, everyone.
Here’s to becoming the friend we hope to have.
Leave a Reply