One of our early Executive Moms surveys revealed that in the “overfulfilled” lives we lead, one of the sacrifices we find ourselves making, with regret, is more time with just our girlfriends. When we think of our “girlfriends” as our own personal women’s network (a network like this), it is a powerful thing. However, much as we prefer not to dwell on it, the disappointment of our gender is the way we can also subvert each other, intentionally or not. We were therefore very drawn to Cindy Morrison’s new book “Girlfriends 2.0” in which her own experiences helped her hone an understanding of what girlfriends can be to us, in their best sense.
Girlfriends 2.0
A little backstory: sounding too melodramatic as plot to be anything other than true life, Cindy Morrison was laid off from a 20-year career as a television anchor and reporter, only to be promptly diagnosed with a grapefruit size tumor… followed by having her house struck by lightning. Looking back a year later from the fortunate vantage point of being healthy and having a new career (along with new appliances), she credited the survival of her mental health, marriage and family to her Girlfriends, and used that learning to inform what makes for a strong Girlfriend Support Network:
Don’t overlook the value of the ‘G’
Being a Girlfriend is not something we are born knowing; it’s something we learn over time and earn that badge of honor. Think of the title of Girlfriend (with a capitol ‘G’) as a badge of honor that a girlfriend earns. A real Girlfriend is someone who doesn’t talk about you in hushed tones; rather, if there is a problem, she brings it directly to you. (A Girlfriend is also someone who calls you when there’s a sale on your favorite brand — even if you wind up having the same outfit).
Girlfriends are your Board of Directors
Much like a non-profit has a diverse board keeping it afloat, there is great value in incorporating trusted Girlfriends in every part of your life. Have a parenting crisis? Your Girlfriends with children can help. A co-worker who’s driving you crazy? Your working Girlfriends can offer counsel. With a variety of great Girlfriends, no one gets all the burden of your issues and they each bring you a new and fresh perspective.
Dump the WannaBes
While your Girlfriends (with a capital G) can make you, girlfriends (notice no capitalization) can break you. They ‘wanna be’ your good Girlfriend but either cannot, or will not. (Some recognizable personas: Suzie Sabotage, Gayle Guilt, Needy Nancy… the kind of women who end up draining you versus restoring you emotionally, and leave you with even less time for your family, good Girlfriends or yourself). One of the hardest acts for many of us is to recognize when a girlfriend is not a real Girlfriend, and let go.
Read more at Girlfriends 2.0
Our New Blog Post – Girlfriend with a G
The subject of this Momorandum inspired our own reflections on what makes for a “Girlfriend” (with a capital G). Read it here and share your own thoughts with us:
Add Your Comment