It was the last day of 2009 and a bunch of my girlfriends and I were ready to ring in the New Year in Pittsburgh. We got ready and headed to the city in two cars. About halfway there, Rachel called me. I was the driver of car one and she was the driver of car two.
"Helloooooo," I answered.
"Listen," she started. "I'm not going to chase you around the city all night."
Yikes. That is not where I saw this conversation going.
"Well," I said. "I'm not going to deal with your piss poor attitude."
And that was it. That was the only argument that I have ever had with a friend of mine in my adult life. It was 45 seconds long and straight to the point. When we got to the party, we laughed about the phone call and hugged it out.
*In Rachel's defense, I was speeding in the rain and she was not familiar with the area. Sorry Rach,I love you.
You know those shows on Bravo where all of those women are just screaming at each other 24/7? They're doing it wrong.
In my opinion, girlfriends in your adult life are as important as water, oxygen and a good mascara.
Great girlfriends are the ones that eat at restaurants that they don't like because that's where you wanted to eat. The ones that come to target with you even though they don't need anything, knowing damn well they're going to drop $50. The ones that pick up the phone when they're busy, just to make sure you're alright. The ones that give you their last advil or tampon.
They tell the truth. Why yes, those pants do make your thighs look huge. They tell you when you have something in your teeth, sometimes they pick it out for you. They cut you off when you've really had plenty of wine. They call you out with you are being a B.
More importantly, they are your support system.
You know when you're younger and you think that every single event that happens is just so significant? Then, you get a little older and you realize that most of those things didn't matter at all. But, all at once, life just hits you for a few years in a row. The only reason that I survived that life thrashing was because of my girlfriends.
When shit goes rogue in your twenties, it's your
girlfriends that have your back. When you hate a man, they hate him
with you. When you love a guy even though he's a total moron, they'll
rationalize why that's okay. These are the same people that keep you
from causing physical bodily harm to the same men described above once the shit hits the proverbial fan.
They ask about your parents. When you mess something up really badly, they tell you that you're still awesome, and they mean it!
Some of my most significant life decisions have been finalized over guacamole and a margarita with Mel K Jones.
While celebrating my birthday this weekend, I looked around at all of the amazing people in my apartment and felt so incredibly thankful for a (little more than a) few good friends.
You know when you first meet someone and your soul just screams "YES!" Those are the ones.
Whether it be through an ex, or a current boyfriend, or college, or work or randomly in central America in an airport; when you find them love them and support them and thank them and repay them by doing the same things that they do for you
Those "friends" out there that pick fights with you, they aren't friends. It's like Meghan Trainor said; you need to let it go. Life is hard, maintaining positive friendships shouldn't be.
Here's to finding your tribe and being grateful every single day.
Xo
