When my daughters were preschoolers, they coined the phrase, "company girl," to describe how they kept each other company. It's stuck with me ever since.
"Will you be my Company Girl?" one girl would ask the other. It seemed like the question always came with an outstretched hand and a hopeful smile. Okay, sometimes it was more of a demand that came with some arm twisting: "BE MY COMPANY GIRL!" You know how sisters are. :)
Hand in hand, they would skip off to the back yard, or to a tea party in the living room, or for a snack in the kitchen. It didn't make any difference where they were, or what they were doing...they knew it would just be better as long as they were together.
I learned something valuable from those two darling redheads. I learned that friendship can be so much less complicated than I had imagined. Sometimes, simply being together is enough. Just having a "company girl" friendship makes everything sweeter, richer, and more enjoyable.
Recently, I've come to see how friendship is more than just sweet, it is like a secret superpower.
Turns out, friendship not only makes life feel good, it reduces stress, and makes us healthier. Friendship boosts our immune system, helps us become more successful, and even helps us live longer.
Friendship is one powerful force.
Girls, this is great news!
We are Wonder Women...and we didn't even know it!
I mean, if you could bottle that force and sell it, you'd make a fortune. I can't think of any pill that packs that kind of promise!
That's why I call friendship our superpower.
Now, some women are naturally good at making and keeping friends. Others of us need help brushing up on our friendship skills that have gotten a little rusty.
You'll get no judgment from me here.
Because, while we've focused on meeting the demands of work, kids, finding receipts, taking out the trash, and remembering to put the load of washed clothes into the dryer before mold sets in, we've let friendships take a back seat. It's hard to juggle everything, and hey, when your kid needs a model volcano for science class tomorrow, and by sad coincidence, you have no idea what to fix for dinner.....enjoying a cup of coffee with a friend can wait, for pete's sake.
I totally get that.
But maybe it's time to unleash your hidden superpower.
Now is a good moment to put the sparkle back into your girlfriend relationships, and experience the ripples of good that not only go out into the world, but come back to you in remarkable ways.
If you would like to rediscover your friendship superpower, I want to invite you to a very special event!
On Saturday, February 20, I'll be speaking at the luncheon at the Day for Women in Temple, TX.
Temple is between Waco and Austin - just a little drive from the Dallas area. There is a whole day planned with shopping, a fashion show, and of course, LUNCH. It's a perfect event to bring a Company Girl to. Day for Women Info
In the meantime, I challenge you to do something friendshippy–something you've been putting off–like writing a letter, or grabbing that cup of coffee, or making a phone call to a friend. A text or email will do, but maybe you can put your superpower to the test and come up with something amazing!
Don't think about yourself and how it will make you feel, but think of the person you're extending a hand to, and how it will make her feel.
Remember, a superpower is worthless when it's kept under wraps, so go out and wield it!
Be the friend you wish you had...and see what happens next.
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What will you do that is friendshippy and superpowery? I'd love to hear your comments!
In the spirit of friendship, I'll give a free, signed copy of my book Flash to one lucky commenter today!
