The Impact of Female Friendships
The first time I watched the iconic 2008 film “The Women”—a remake of the 1939 classic, which itself was based on a 1936 play of the same name—I was so caught up in the drama and laughs that I didn’t even notice the complete lack of men on screen.
By Employee(s) of MGM - http://www.doctormacro.com/Movie%20Summaries/W/Women,%20The.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18659042
It wasn’t until my second viewing that it hit me: not a single man makes an appearance! But, that’s probably because my life has always been a women-centric show with men playing supporting roles.
I grew up with a single mom and a powerhouse grandma, surrounded by two sisters.
Sure, I have a brother, but he’s a whole decade older than me, so my childhood memories of him are more like guest star cameos. My dad was more like a tertiary character. You know, like Nearly Headless Nick from Harry Potter. Popping in and out when you least expect it.
Needless to say, I have always cherished my relationships with women. The older I get, that appreciation only grows stronger
When my dad passed away, the first person I wanted was my best friend, Lucy. I was the only one of my siblings to attend his funeral, so Lucy made sure she was sitting right next to me. Meanwhile, my amazing friend, Brittney, was there keeping my daughter entertained and blissfully unaware. If it weren’t for them, that time in my life would’ve been very hard on me.
That’s the power of female friendships.
They lift you out of dark places, they heighten your achievements, their presence is so powerful, you can feel it even when they’re miles away.
One of the many things I hope to give my daughter is - women are the secret to life. The relationships we hold so dear are the bedrock we build our lives on — they are what keep us grounded, keep us sane, and call us on our shit. They save us from ourselves. You can tell a lot about a woman by her friends and goddamnit, I have the best.
