My Vital Friends

Sometimes life sends you signs of your true blessings. This week I was lucky enough to realize what a miracle it is that I have such tremendous friends in my life. There is a book by Tom Rath called Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without that alludes to the fact that most people have many friends who each play different roles in your life. I find this to be so very true. As I think through my family of friends I realize that each of them came into my life at a time that our connection was pivotal for the situation we each found ourselves in at the time. That, to me, is powerful justification that we were brought together by a a higher being and that our crossing paths were purposeful.

The power of girlfriends cannot be denied. Some call us catty, obnoxious, gossipy, etc. etc. Whatever! The next time you enter a coffee shop and see a circle of women crowded around a table or gathered together around the park bench at the playground or at the vending machines of the office rest assured that they aren't solving the world's problems, but they are moving mountains among their emotional selves.

At one point in my career I was lucky enough to have met two of my very best friends on this planet (you know who you are!) and every morning we would meet in the hallway of the office and have our "water break." It was in the halls that we would help weather each other's storms. We always seemed to land outside of one man's office and he once passed us and said "I don't even want to know who ya'll are talking about every morning." We replied that we had so much drama between us that we didn't have time to talk about anyone else.... and goodness how true that was!! Let me just tell you... on those water breaks we uncovered everything from perfect hangover cures to how to breastfeed and cook dinner at the same time. (There was a lot of other material shared that quite frankly will never leave my lips - or fingers.) But you get the idea.

When it comes to a conversing group of women we are partaking in our own personal therapy. We're laughing. We're crying. We're bitching. And most importantly we're living and discovering our true selves. There are no limits to what we will talk about and what secrets we will share. If it takes a village to raise a child it takes a circle of friends to become a wise, old woman.

Today I am thankful for all my sisters and the abundance of joy they bring to my life. Without them I would be a lost and lonely soul. Look for us today gathered here and there and everywhere navigating mommyhood, womanhood and overall greatness. And in 30 years you can look for us and still find us; the conversation will undoubtedly change but the power of our circle will be the same. Cheers to my sisters, I love you all!