Relationships

It seems that when one hears the word “relationship”, they automatically think of a romantic union. Webster’s defines a relationship as such: the fact or state of having something in common or the state of having shared interests or efforts. While a passionate union is one such relationship, it is not the only relationship known to exist.

Today I am thinking of needing sisters in your life. I am not only thinking of sisters in the sense of those that are related to you by blood, but those women who have been in your life, for any amount of time, that have held you up. The women who have listened to you as you cried over your high school boyfriend. The women who held your hair back while you got sick after drinking too much in college. The women who were at the hospital when you had your first child. The women who got you through not only the best times in your life, but also the worst times.

Not only do I have a sister, a sister-in-law, a mother, and a mother in-law, all of whom I love and adore in different ways, I have an arsenal of other women. I have a group of five other women whom I have known since high school. These are women who have seen me grow and change over the course of fifteen plus years.

In our group, we have seen some get divorced. Some get remarried. Some have kids. Some have to say good-bye to their babies. We have seen a lot. One thing stays constant, we are always there. No matter what comes our way, no matter if we agree with it or not, we are still there to support and love each other. These are women that have accepted me no matter what and loved me unconditionally over the years. These are women that see me for me.

They are an amazing group of women whom I will always cherish no matter how long it is between our meetings. I know they have my back and are there for me in a pinch. They do not have to say it, I just know it. There is something to be said about someone who has stood by your side through it all. I am lucky to have found five such women.

The following was sent to me today by one of these friends and it sums it up perfectly.

A friend is like a good bra….hard to find, supportive, comfortable, always lifts you up, never lets you down or leaves you hanging, and is always close to your heart.

Denise, Katie, Shannon, Lisa, And Annie, thanks for being my arsenal. Life is easier to fight with you by my side.