I don't think I could ever express my gratitude enough for how thankful I am that my current this-stage-of-life best girlfriends took me into their awesome ladies wolf pack. They have all known each other for pretty much their whole lives, so to let in someone so late in their best friend life, is something I don't take for granted. I always had a strong group of awesome girls around me growing up, and still do even though a lot of them are now afar, so I didn't even know it'd be possible to find new friends that would let me in, nonetheless have such a profound impact on my life.
This pack of girlfriends changed my life forever, and I'm lucky they've been able to teach me so much in the few years since they've taken me in. They, maybe inadvertently, have shown me why it can be such a blessing to continue finding and keeping special people in your lives, no matter what age or stage of life you're in.
Instead of making one friend, you can automatically make many
Making friends post-college-aged-years is tough. You no longer are lucky enough to live in the same house or city as your besties, but sometimes have to force yourself to meet some new BFFs. I was so lucky to have awesome high school friends and the best college girlfriends ever possible, so when those years were over, I quickly learned making new friends is not easy. Being taken in by a cool group of chicks was one of the best things to happen in my mid-twenties. I wasn't needing to feel like I had to cling to one friend because otherwise I'd be lonely, but instead had a group of girls that I could turn to depending on whether I wanted a date to the mall, a night out or even to go to church. Gaining a crew of chicks allowed me to get to know each of them, and in turn, have them really get to know me, so that we could lean on each other, be there for each other and form a solid bond.
You're all in this stage of life together
One of the cool things about joining a group of girlfriends in your mid-twenties is that everyone's kind of coming into their own at the same time. Sure, these girls have all known each other since grade school, but they went off to separate colleges and some to different cities, so no matter who's been closest with who for years, everyone's kind of figuring out who they are and who they want to be. And that's what is so great about girlfriends. They're endlessly there for you. So when one of us is going through a rough patch, or gets engaged, or even just needs to chat, we all can relate. I'm committed to being there for them as much as they are forever there for me. It's continuously an incredible thing.
We became friends for a reason - because we wanted to
I truly believe all things happen for a reason, and I know there's a reason these girls have been placed in my life. I also know that it didn't have to happen this way. Kev didn't have to introduce me to this group of girls he was friends with in high school, but he thought we'd hit it off, and we did. We didn't have to continue friendship over years of life's most trying times, but we did. I accepted them and they accepted me, without ask. At the end of the day, we're friends, and friends choose to stick it out for each other. It is such a beautiful thing, a group of strong, empowering young women who choose to be each other's advocates through life. I'm lucky to have found such a group, so strong, even if I'm slightly an outlier.
So to all my chicks out there - remember to be thankful for all your groups of girlfriends this holiday season. They make the world a better, brighter, and just down right more fun place to be in. Long live, girl-power.
Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo
Molly