Nothing beats a BESTIE…

Celebrating my 50th Birthday last week in the Mediterranean with my two high school besties was a trip of a lifetime. Sherry (Carrot) and Sarah (Salad) and I met our Sophomore year of high school and have been making each other laugh for over 35 years. There have been marriages, divorces, kids, bonus kids, tears, heartaches and every day joys we have each shared through the years but I think the best part of our trip was realizing how special it was to have shared a lifetime together. I’ve heard the saying “Men will come and go but girlfriends last forever”….and, for most part, that’s true. Of course, there have been friends I’ve loved dearly but we’ve grown apart…maybe due to miles or life circumstances, but I can say I’ve learned so much from my girlfriends (and if I’m honest…some hard lessons from women I’ve chosen NOT to be friends with)

I think the best part of having strong relationships with women is the honesty. With the year I’ve had I think anyone would find themselves asking…”Is it me? Am I doing something that’s made the world mad?” It felt, at times, like the hits just kept coming. Every time I’d fall apart, cry and gather myself up from the floor it felt like I was just settled enough to get hit again….and it was exhausting.

I was blessed to have friends (like Sherry and Sarah, BNC and Wendy and so many more) around me to tell me I was okay. To tell me I would find happiness again. To just sit in the gray space with me and tell me how…with time…the world would be filled with so much beautiful color.

Whether you have a Salad and Carrot in your life that have been around forever…or if it’s taken you a lifetime to “find your people”…these powerful relationships with women are the backbone of society, or at least they are for me.

I’m genuinely blessed to have found myself doing what I love…making people laugh through stand-up or the morning show…and somehow creating this amazing community where women have connected from all over the world. Laughter is a beautiful thing. Sometimes, in dark times, it’s the only thing. I wish you all the best on your journeys…the hard ones. The journeys that make you question everything. Know that a good laugh with a good friend can make everything just a little bit better. Maybe it doesn’t fix it…but it lets you know it won’t be gray forever. If you feel like you are still looking for that bestie….hang out in our OFM community for a bit. We’ll find you:) We got you, Bestie.