Why 2017 Should Be All About Your Girlfriends

Let’s make the new year the year of sisterhood.

Over the last six years, I have realized the incredible importance of cultivating close relationships with fellow women. What started in college as a group of ten or so gal pals slowly diminished to two over a period of years. Not an unusual phenomenon for many of us — life’s ups and downs sometimes push friendships to break upon impact, or apathetically drift away. Just as romantic relationships don’t work out based on personalities, timing, so can friendships follow the same path. But as sad as some break-ups may be, they are a part of the larger picture: personal growth. But this post isn’t about unfortunate friendship failures, it’s about realizing the importance of investing in and supporting the girlfriends that you do have… just as they support and love you.

Girlfriends are your chosen family. We cannot choose the family we were born into, or trade in our parents when we’ve had enough. But we can decide the type of friendships we allow into our lives. When we truly and authentically invest in our friendships, we create a bond with one another that best mirrors the closeness of family. Our girlfriends can and should be our rocks: they know everything about us and love us despite our shortcomings and quirks. They know what makes us tick, what is at our deepest core level and will consistently meet us there. They love us like no other — family, romantic, or otherwise. They are our soul’s chosen family.

Girlfriends are like therapists. I think it’s a fair assumption that we have all vented to a girlfriend once or twice before. Like sitting on a couch across the room from a therapist, our girlfriends are a constant ear for our troubles… our cheerleaders, our advice column, our shoulders to lean on, and our box of tissues. They listen intently — patiently — and without judgement. They are, without fail, our safe space.

Spending time with your girlfriends can decrease depression.  In an article written by Erica Diamond of  the blog “Women on the Fence,” scientific research states that spending quality time with your girlfriends can increase serotonin levels. “In an evening class at Stanford,” she writes, “the last lecture was on the mind-body connection – the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically, this quality “girlfriend time” helps us to create more serotonin – a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being.”

So in the name of well-being, love and sisterhood, can we all agree that 2017 will be the year of cultivating our friendships? We need to be thankful for each other. More than ever. True friendship — finding your soul’s sister — is a tremendous rarity and one that should be cherished.

+ Do you spend enough quality time with your girlfriends? How can you better invest in your friendships today?

Follow Joanna on Instagram.

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7 years ago

This post makes me feel slightly guilty. In between all our busy schedules and being all over the world, my girlfriends and I haven’t really seen each other lately. I miss them so much, but it’s so hard to get everyone together at once. Must make more of an effort the coming holidays!
– Charmaine
http://charmainenyw.com

Karen
7 years ago

This is an area that my friends and I pride ourselves on. I am blessed to have THREE solid, life-long, true best friends. We have a night out each week without fail. We go on fun trips together (latest was a cooking school and spa day for one of our birthdays!) We are there for each other no matter what and speak each and every day, if just a quick text. It’s one of the biggest blessings of my life and worth every effort. Love my framily!

7 years ago

Girlships are always of heightened interest. I absolutely adore this, too often women are putting eachother down with social media influences, television etc. Strengthening girlships, and bonding with your girls…. there’s nothing quite like it.

Much Love,
Priscilla Ivette @ http://www.thepollenblog.com/

7 years ago

This is one of the best posts I’ve read in ages. It so important to have a great group of friends
alexie.co

Melissa
7 years ago

I understand this post, but I think it’s important to be open to all friendships. I like to hope I have a well rounded group of friends from all walks of life both male and female. The title of this made me feel like I was being asked to join a sorority. Here’s to 2017 being about making ALL of our relationship better.

Melisssa

7 years ago

Loved this! Its so true and obvious but we always forget it – 2017 will be all about my girls!