It occurred to me as I was rushing this morning at 7 am to my BFF’s house, to provide emotional support for her during a heated financial “discussion” with her ex-husband, all the things we just “do” when asked. We cancel appointments;  take time off of work; slip into small, mirrored, badly lit dressing rooms to give honest critiques; loan our best clothes; tell the truth -  no matter what.

 When called upon we “just do it”, even when we don’t want to, because that’s just what women do for women.  We lie, fabricate, pretend, tread where other do not dare. We become warriors for each other – warning others “not to go there.” We share yucky secrets  (the one’s we can barely put into words), like that one-night stand we’ d really rather forget. We hold each other’s hands during scary biopsies, and sit for hours in divorce courts. We drive to colonoscopies, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, ex mother in laws — but mostly, we listen. We learn to recognize the small shifts in each other’s voices that tell us it’s time for a lunch or a drink or a long phone conversation, even if it’s the same conversation we’ve been having for years. We simply LISTEN – and we never, ever bring it up again, no matter what. We tell each other the hard stuff like “you’re drinking too much,” “you need to lose a few pounds,” “take my hair appointment, you need a trim,” “I ran into your boyfriend where he shouldn’t have been.”

 And we love each other fiercely, instinctively and often longer than many marriages.

 LONG LIVE GIRLFRIENDS!!!!!

BIO:  

Patti Hawn is author of GOOD GIRLS DON’T a deeply personal first-hand account of what it was like to be trapped in an unwanted pregnancy at the close of an era where home economics took precedence over sex education. I gave up my child for adoption —-found him 40 years later…but this is where the typical adoption story begins…and ends. My book is available on Amazon and www.goodgirlsdontbook.com.

Patti Hawn Patti Hawn has worked on over thirty major motion pictures including some of the most acclaimed films of the last decade.  Her credits include Ghost, Glory, Overboard, and most recently, August Rush and Bride Wars.

Patti makes her debut literary effort with her memoir, GOOD GIRLS DON’T, that tells the story of the last generation of young women to experience life on the eve of the sexual revolution of the sixties and the passing of legislation legalizing abortion. It is a unique time in history, foreign to an entire generation of women, that resulted in an incredible number of reunions between birth parents and their children — 20, 30 and 40 years after.

Patti is the sister of the acclaimed actress Goldie Hawn. She resides in Manhattan Beach, California with her husband and travels to India, Nepal and Thailand where she works in humanitarian efforts.

Patti Hawn friendships, Girlfriends, help, inspiration, women friendship

Hello Girlfriends – Today is the FIRST Anniversary of the launch of MakeGirlfriends.com.  I can tell you that I’ve been on an adventure in the last year collecting many stories and friends along the way.  Stories that have inspired me and friends that have added sunshine into my life.  

I write this as I board a plane from Dallas to San Francisco where I plan to spend 4 glorious days with my “girlfriends” in Sausalito, California.  They are Isabella, Jovanna, Joyce, Mel and Lisa.  These are the women that inspired me to create my website.  These are the women that were there for me when I was going through a difficult time in my life 2 years ago.  These are my balcony friends.  I knew that I could rely on each one, and they know that I’m always there for them. 

I decided on a whim to make the cross country trip to go see them.  In 2 days I had the trip booked and ready to go; I was talking to my girlfriend Isabella on a Tuesday morning and she stated that she was having a party for the “girls” on Friday that same week and I immediately stated, “Not without me!”  Sometimes in life the spontaneous trips turn out to be the BEST trips. 

“Spontaneity without receptivity is empty.  Receptivity without spontaneity is blind.” –Kant 

No thought just all gut instinct – the instinct that I missed them and wanted to be there and I knew it was the right thing to do.  It had been 9 months since our last visit. 

When we have girlfriends – either near or far, we should consider ourselves very fortunate and extremely blessed. 

Some of the women I speak to once a week, others twice a month and others we don’t keep in touch, but when we see each other,  it’s like there has been no distance between us. 

I have a friend in Chicago like this – Corinne Edwards – I met her once during my “staycation” in Chicago.  We hit it off and now we communicate occasionally via phone or email.  My other friend that I stay in touch with is Cheryl in Houston – met her while in California.  Your girlfriends are the ones that will be there for you.  Men come in and out of our lives (well they have in my life), but a girlfriend will always be there for you. 

They will be your sounding board; they will uplift you, encourage and inspire you.  They will listen to your pains, your joys and have your best interest always in mind.

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.  Anais Nin

Every girlfriend is a gift and I don’t take them for granted; each one so different but yet each one so special to me.

I want to thank each one of you that read and follow my blog – I appreciate your loyalty!  To each one of you, I am in total gratitude!  I look forward to the many anniversaries that will follow this one…. 

I must not exclude our facebook girlfriends.  They are the ones that read our posts – are loyal in following our blogs and give us words of encouragement.  You know who you are my Facebook girlfriends.

What girlfriend or girlfriends did you want to mention or honor?  Please leave a comment to honor her…

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us!

Girlfriends, encouragement, inspiration friendships, Girlfriends, inspiration, women friendship

Hello Girlfriends – A bond of a woman is a strong thing and so often jeopardized by men if we allow it….  Many times in life we make incredible friendships while unattached and once we find an attachment then those friendships fizzle out; partly because we want to spend more time with our new relationship and partly because we don’t make the time to be with our girlfriends.  Don’t tell me you spend all your time with this “new” person that you don’t even have coffee time/lunch time or dinner time for your girlfriends?

Why do we feel we must have either a man/woman relationship or a girlfriend/girlfriend relationship – is it either or?  Why can’t we have both?  Sometimes relationships get possessive and controlling.  The idea of I’m in your life and no one else should exist comes to play.  I’m writing from experience here, when I was married, I made no time for girlfriends and used up all my time for my husband.  This is not at all healthy; it’s good to spend some time away from each other.  Well, once the marriage ended, I had no husband and I was fortunate enough to make friends quickly but I had no one from my past to talk to since I didn’t make that a priority and establish those bonds with other women.

We think that this only happens to teenagers – but it actually happens to adults as well.  I’m sure many of you reading this can relate. 

Our girlfriends will be there when the men in our lives are not.  They are the ones that will hold your hand and dry a tear.  I can only think of balance in our lives.  I’m sure there is a way to balance both female and male relationships.  The best practice is to be up front with our significant others and let them know how important your girlfriends in your life are.  Let him know you find it important that you stay connected and continue to do things with them as you pursue your relationship with him.  Sometimes we have to explain that it’s not because we love them less but that we will be better women for them with the help of our friends!  Nonetheless, it’s called communication.

The Beatles had it right with their hit song, “With a Little Help From My Friends.” 

I thank all my girlfriends that were there for me as I went through my hard times – yes, this includes you my dear Sister…….

Remember, may the possibilities of today excite us all!

Girlfriends, encouragement, motivation Challenges, Girlfriends, inspiration, women friendship