Happy Galentine’s Day
I have been thinking for while about writing a post to celebrate my wide and wonderful circle of friends. The tribe of females that – literally and figuratively – get me through this crazy life. They consistently show up. Forgive and forget. And accept me for who I am, and often challenge me to be better.
My Valentine’s Day started with the odd cancellation of school for my kids due to a water advisory for the county we live in. This was after I bought 28 Valentine’s themed donuts from Bill’s Donuts last night and rearranged my day to be at Connor’s second grade party. But I digress….
After wishing my children and husband a Happy V-Day, I immediately sent texts to some of my dearest and closest friends. And it dawned on me again just how much I need and love my friends. And at different times for different things.
There are my Mount St. Mary’s Academy (high school) girls who would drop anything to help me if I needed it. They have known me since I was 14 years old, and while our lives are not led in the same geographic locations doing the same type of lives, I can send a text with one or two words and I know they will laugh hysterically. They are the ones that leave a fabulous party at 10:30 at night in Manhattan when I call years ago because they knew I was going through my divorce… It is a special shared history that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
There are my friends from all my professional chapters. We always easily pick up where we left off, and I can ask them for advice for anything. We have an appreciation for that side of each other that perhaps other people in our lives do not, and it is sacred to me.
There are the friends that I have met through all sorts of Dayton introductions. Who knew that play groups or volunteering would lead to some of the best friends in my life? These friendships surpass the shared experience of volunteering together or having children the same age, although there is a specialness to having that shared history. Each one of us have faced challenges that we never would have predicted over fourteen years ago, and I am a better person for having them by my side. And I hope vice versa.
There are the members of my family that are dear friends to me. The universe has blessed me with incredible sisters in law. They are each just lovely, kind, good, devoted, and fun individuals that I would pick to spend my time with…
And my amazing Sheehan girl cousins. I am the oldest by quite a bit, and I love to see how each one of them are flourishing in their own paths in life. (PS – Bridget – I adore how you keep in touch with me. I feel so proud and excited when you share your successes with me) And at that root of all that family goodness are the previous generations. We have learned how to lift each other up from the examples that they set, including my Grandmothers, my mom, and my mother in law.
There also are my fellow Naughty Literati book club ladies. I am thrilled that this group has sustained the trials of time and life getting complicated. I would share just about anything with any of these ladies, discuss, and walk away more enriched. They are each lovely and talented, and I so enjoy their company.
In any given day, I will send a text to a mom friend for help understanding even the basics like if Kate needs a new helmet for ski club or if I bought the right glitter for the holiday party. One thing that Hilary and I can fully agree on is that it really and truly takes a village….
I have shared in previous posts just how bone weary tired I am of the challenges of being a woman in today’s world on many levels.
But to each one of my nearest and dearest friends listed above in some context or not – thank you for making it all easier.
More fulfilling.
More fun.
More real.
Just better.
Cheers to you!