When I was a little girl my mother told me that as a grown woman when it came time to count the number of true friends I had, I would be lucky to be able to raise a few fingers. True friends she said are a rarity and you will be blessed to have a few. I count my blessings every day in the fact that I can hold up many fingers. I have an amazing circle of friends. We may not always see one another and it may be days or even weeks between visits, but knowing they are never more than a phone call away is something I not only appreciate, but treasure.
We’ve vacuumed one another’s houses, we’ve prepared meals to share and we’ve even shown up in the middle of the night in our pajamas because someone was in need. We laugh together, cry together and best of all we’ve laughed until we cried.
Regardless of our hectic schedules we do make it a point to find “girl” time on a regular basis. I have played Trivia weekly with a group of women for over 4 years and enjoy a monthly card game with another group for more years than that. We have celebrated birthdays, divorces, graduations and grand babies. Most importantly we celebrate one another for the unique and divine women we are. All different and of various ages, we find commonality in the trials and tribulations of life. Raising children and husbands, launching and losing businesses, at the end of the most stressful day we can come together and find something to laugh about.
Over the years we have hosted a variety of girl’s gatherings. We've gathered over sappy movies, music marathons and the latest martini recipe. No occasion is too small to not celebrate it with the greatest of fanfare. Over the course of an evening we will solve the world’s problems, reminisce over years gone by, discuss rising credit card debt and confess our latest shopping sin. No subject is off topic and amazingly we will carry on numerous topics at one time. At the end of our time together the only thing we will complain about is the fact our sides ache from all the laughter and we don’t get to do this as often as we’d like. I have come to appreciate my girl friend time as important to my health as healthy eating and exercising. In fact, medical proof is mounting to support the fact that laughter has both short term and long term effects. In the short term it stimulates your organs, activates and relieves your stress response and soothes tension and stomach aches. Its long term benefits improve your immune system relieves pain and increases personal satisfaction.
When it comes to time spent with my spirited women friends there is a quote from William James that says it best. “We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy because we laugh.” Now…take two girlfriends and call me...
Gina McNew, www.ItsHipToBeHot.com
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