Photo Credit: Jessica Rockowitz Photography + Film

Reflecting on the big milestones in my life – graduating from high school and college, getting confirmed, my wedding, moving to Austin, my kids’ births and birthdays, the death of my dad, running my first half marathon, my fortieth birthday, my hysterectomy – friends celebrated with me or carried me.

As a fellow mommy blogger (and friend) writes, making and keeping friends takes effort, but the community you create becomes a sisterhood. The effort is worthwhile! Studies show that friends:

  1. Lower your stress,
  2. Keep your brain healthy,
  3. Help you live longer and feel better,
  4. Can boost your career,
  5. Motivate you to be healthier,
  6. Teach you about yourself.

In addition, it’s incredibly gratifying for me to see my kids witness the friendships in my life. It shows them connection and vulnerability in action, and sets an example of healthy friendships in their lives. I will help them nurture and grow their relationships.

My oldest friend, Jenny, taught me how to play rummy in seventh grade. I’ve taught my kids and now in my 40s, play with friends in Austin.  My high school friend, Gwen, who I spent HOURS with on her houseboat drinking Mountain Dew and eating Reese’s flew to Austin to run my first half marathon with me. My college friends and I reunite almost yearly (the latest was in Austin) to reconnect and grow from young Chi Omegas to moms together. From the first friends I met at work to my first neighbors to the first friend with whom I had a newborn playdate, they have given me the gifts of connection, vulnerability, godmother, interventionist, road trips, baby showers, birthday parties, spiritual mentorship, bunco, and a love of honey mustard.

When my kids started kindergarten, friendships became much more accessible. People were more available and willing to open themselves to new people and relationships. I’ve found an entire village of precious souls at my kids’ school. I’m talking about my mom friends! Our kids have grown up together and have known each other for 10+ years. We’ve trick-or-treated together, worried about classroom drama, witnessed broken bones, held each other through illnesses, went to the beach together, talked about sex, drugs and peer pressure, went on girl’s trips, went to parents’ funerals, carpooled, parented each other’s kids, went on retreats, and talked, laughed, cried incessantly.

During the 42 years of my life, here’s what I’ve learned from my friends (and why I need them):

  • It’s safe to ask (for me it’s easy to give. It’s the asking that is hard).
  • I AM LOVED.
  • I am worthy.
  • I am understood.
  • I am supported.
  • I require connection.
  • Vulnerability is a sacred gift.
  • I show up. And friends show up for me.
  • God created me to love and care about many people.

I imagine there’s another wave (or ten) of friendships coming as my life evolves and transitions. From my son entering high school to a greater focus on my career to (gasp) empty nester and retirement.

To my friends, I wouldn’t be me without you. Thank you for being my lifejacket when the current gets rocky, my stage when life is a party, and my heart on all the regular days.

What about you? When you reflect on your life, what people stick out to you? How have your friendships helped you, and what have you learned from them?

 

Photography: Jessica Rockowitz Photography + Film

Brittany Jedrzejewski
Brittany’s two children (now a teen and a tween!), have gifted her with the most beautiful name (and role) in the world. Their journey together inspires her to pursue her passion of writing, a powerful catalyst that brings mothers together in sisterhood. As the Preemptive Love Coalition says, “When we live like we all belong to each other, we answer much of the longing in the world.” Brittany is grateful for a work-life balance in digital marketing @gemalto and as a brand architect working with female entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place for their clients. She’s also an outdoor lover, reader, memory maker, runner, joke teller, ambassador for the poor. Looking to publish The Virtual Village. She has a great Brad Pitt story and uses Instagram @brittfarjed to tell her story.

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