March 6, 2009

Sunday, March 8 is International Women’s Day and we’re celebrating the achievements of women, economically, socially and politically. Wherever you are and whatever you plan to celebrate, I’ll bet that your life is probably a lot like mine – crazy busy with your legal nurse consulting business, your family, the myriad responsibilities in your life with little time left for celebrating, much less time for your women friends.

On International Women’s Day, take a pause to contemplate not just your achievements, but also what it means to be a woman and what it means to be surrounded by your women friends. Consciously, make the effort to surround yourself with your best women friends. If you don’t have any, find them – they’re there if you look hard enough.

Keep your life lean and positive. Dump any friend (man, woman or relative) who doesn’t genuinely support you by coming from a negative or grasping space. True friends won’t always agree with your every action or decision, but you want your friends to be a force of good in your life – not a detour to the dark side.

Remember to make time for your friends. We all like to be spontaneous but let’s face it, we’re busy. So schedule, schedule, schedule: an early morning walk, lunch or a glass of wine after work. Even a weekend sleepover might be fun. (Your husband will love you for this one.) My best high school friend from New Orleans and I occasionally go off together for a WWA (women’s weekend alone). We find it strengthens our friendship and restores that bond (especially after two martinis). Sometimes she’ll visit me at my home and other times I’ll go to hers. What matters is the connection. My home is always open to my friends and it’s always renewing to have them stay with me.

Friendship doesn’t cost anything and it means everything. Be a best friend today. If you want to learn how to make even more of your friendships, read my Chapter on Fusion in my book, Inside Every Woman: Using the 10 Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had to Get the Career and Life You Want Now. You will never be the same once you fused with a group of strong, independent, successful, supportive women.

Take a moment today to honor and celebrate your womanness, and the womanness of all the women in your life. It would be a much different world without us (not to mention a lot messier).

Success Is Inside!

P.S. Comment and share how you are celebrating International Women’s Day with the special women in your life.