"All we need is love" Series: Girlfriends Edition

This week is Valentine's Day. Soon, office buildings will be flooded with flowers, candy, and oversized teddy bears for a day dedciated to celebrating love. For some, Valentine's Day is not a happy occassion. Pop culture has flooded us with one sided images of love that make us feel that if we don't have that "Special someone" on Valentine's Day, we have nothing to celebrate. This couldn't be further from the truth! And so this week, on each day, I plan to celebrate all the ones that I love.

Today, I celebrate my girlfriends!  I love you all. You're all so important to my life in so many different ways. Hey you......over there reading this! Yea, you. I couldn't make it without you, girl!

The TEN girlfriends that EVERY woman needs in her life.

1. The Encourager

This woman is like your personal cheerleader. She thinks you are awesome in every single way possible! She makes you feel like a rockstar at all times! WE all need this friend. This is the one who will tell you on the days you feel ugly just how beautiful you really are. She encourages your dreams and goals. She tells you that you are the BEST at what you do. And you know what? She means it.

My Encouragers: Yogi, Linda, Sabrina, Kim, Amanda, Orathai, Shannon, Sherell, Dara, Robin, Tiffany, Ranyne.

2. The Tell it like it is friend

We ALL need that girlfriend that will listen intently as we vent about our Significant Other, boss, officemates, family, etc and then follow up your rant with the words, "I hear you girl, and you know I love you right? But........."
However, intent is everything! When you find a girlfriend who speaks the truth to you at all times because she loves you and not because she's jealous, she's a keeper! If she's speaking it out of love, even if it's a hard truth.....you'd be wise to listen to her.  In fact, she's one to seek counsel from because, well....you know she'll never tell you wrong. Remember, Love delights in the truth! She'll never sugar coat to protect your feelings. She gives it to you straight, no chaser.

My Truth Teller's: Chi-Chi, Robin, Abeba, Amanda, Tiffany

4. The friend who makes you feel like a teenager

I have a girlfriend that all of our get together's include trying on every lip gloss in our collections, looking at each other's new shoes and watching the Golden Girls. When I tell my husband this friend is coming over, he literally finds a reason to leave the house. It's just too much girl overload for him! There is a saying "Laughter is the best medicine". And sometimes, you just need that friend that helps you tap into your inner teenager. Sometimes when life weighs you down, you just need to call up one of your fun girls and giggle on the phone for an hour about everything.......and nothing.

My Fun Girls: Sabrina, Yogi, Abeba, Kim, Dionne, Shannon, Cisely, Latrell

5. The Mind Reader

This is the friend that you pick your phone up to call and notice you have a text and it's from her saying "hey. Call me." You are so alike sometimes that it's scary! You like all the same stuff and at some point will realize that you probably own the same random fragrance or lip color. You show up to events dressed alike. You watch all the same shows. You basically share a brain with this person. You never have to explain to her how you're feeling because she totally gets it. You speak to each other in broken sentences and still understand. This is the friend that can usually fix your problems that you've been agonzing over for a week in about 5 minutes.

My Mind Readers: Amanda, Abeba (we actually have started a twin album), Tiffany, Sabrina, Cisely

6. The Girl who has been there from the beginning

Everyone needs that one friend that has known you since before you could talk! It's nice to have this friend because at this point, they are probably a part of your family. This means that you can call this friend and launch into a story about your crazy cousin or your mom's eye surgery and they already know all the history behind it. You need that friend that knows why it's never okay to mention certain movies or songs because it reminds you of your sixth grade boyfriend who broke your heart on the playground. They know all your secrets and understand you without even trying. This friend is totally irreplaceable.

My from the beggining girls: Stephanie, Christina, and Krystal

7.The Odd Couple Friend

This is the friend that you  never saw coming! On the surface, it would appear that you don't have much in common. In fact, you usually look like a modern day version of the Odd Couple when you're out together. However, once you got to know that person, you are so grateful that you did! This friend brings a different worldview and perspective to your life that you may not have known otherwise.

My Unlikely Friends: Ann-Marie, Jackie, Jessica

8. The Friend that can get a prayer through

When your mama is sick........or your SO is tripping..........or your job is working your LAST nerve and all you can do is cry........you need that friend who can and will pray with you. The one who will encourage your heart and your spirit. The one who will speak scripture into your life and your situation. The one who will pray for you when you're too weak to pray for yourself. I love the story in the Bible of the four friends who carried their friend to Jesus because he was too weak and ill to go himself. And when they couldn't get in, they lowered their friend down through the roof. Everyone needs that friend who will carry them to Jesus when they are too weak and ill to do it for themselves. And who will get you to Him.......even if it means tearing the roof off the house.

My prayer warriors: Robin, Chi-Chi, Shareeka, Ann-Marie, Amanda, Cisely, Sabrina, Shannon, Tiffany, Ranyne, Christina

9. The friend who fuels your obsessions

This friend doesn't think it's weird at all that you would spend your entire paycheck on shoes and accessories, if you could. Besides, lights and running water are highly overated, anyway. She will spend hours combing through shoes at the DSW sale or through earrings to find the perfect shade of pink to match your new dress. And if it's on sale? That's even better! When you find a deal, she's happier than you are! And she ALWAYS sends you coupons to your favorite stores.

My friends that, much to KB's chagrin, fuel my obsessions: Sabrina (if you send me ONE more Body Shop coupon), Robin, Tiffany, Cisely, Kim

10. The Unshockable Friend

There is absolutely nothing you could tell this friend that would shock them. NOTHING. They never judge you. They don't even blink. In fact, their reactions are so calm, you sometimes think they didn't hear you. She also must be good at keeping secrets, because she knows all the most ratchet and flinch-worthy things about you. And guess what? She loves you, anyway!

My unshockable friends: Yogi, Abeba, Amanda

So in celebration of Valentine's Day.....reach out to your girlfriends....all of them and let them know how much you love them!