Yesterday afternoon I received a forwarded email from one of my best friends that I wanted to share with each of you today. A lecture from Stanford’s head of psychiatry was summarized about stress, disease, and the whole mind-body connection. He said that one of the best things a man can do for his health is be married to a woman, but one of the best things a woman can do for her health is nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.
Even though I feel I have an amazing relationship with my husband, I always walk away from any conversation with a girlfriend feeling refreshed, happy, and stress-free. Women have a different connection with each other than men. Women seem to understand that when stress or other difficult situations arise, they need to provide a support system and share their feelings, talk about the issues that are troubling. Men seem to push feelings aside and struggle communicating how they feel. When I come home, I am eager to share my entire day with my husband. Unless I really pry, he is content saying just a few words about his day.
I wanted to share about this professor’s lecture because I want all the ladies reading out there to know how important it is to take time for your girlfriends. Spending time with a girlfriend is just as important to our general health as exercise when it comes to coping with stress! This makes me think back to all the times I missed with my girlfriends because I didn’t want to miss a work out at the gym! Little did I know I would have been doing my body a huge favor by skipping the gym and having a laugh with my friends!
I hope this post will get you thinking about your own girlfriends; the laughs, the cries, and everything in between. I hope it will encourage you to call up a friend today and meet for lunch or dinner, or go out for a long walk (weather depending). We are all very lucky to have the friends we do, cherish them; it’s just a bonus that girlfriend time is also excellent for our health! Cheers to that! Now go call your friends!
QUESTION: Do you take time for your girlfriends?
Well said! I too feel soooo much better after reconnecting with a girlfriend or two. I need to make more of an effort. I am the type who tends to get into a funk and then not want to see ANYone. Not healthy. Thanks for the reminder!
LOVe this post- I always make time for my girls!
I LOVED this post. I think it really goes the same way for guys too. I was just having this conversation with my husband. Friends make you realize you’re problems/issues are not just yours…they make you laugh and put things in perspective and they motivate. Going to email a far a way friend now. Thank you.
xoxo from Trinidad
I couldn’t agree more. Girlfriend companionship is such an important part of a balanced life! I think it’s because we tend to let our emotions show more and besides– I’ve rarely met a (straight) guy who loves to talk about shoes or makeup!
What a great post! Thanks for passing this along.
It is such a great reminder to maintain those relationships with your girlfriends.
I LOVE this and totally agree – friends are so important in life, especially girlfriends. BUT I also firmly believe that friendships shouldn’t be work – so I try to invest in the friendships that have a nice give/take to them, good support system and all around drama-free as best as I can. I love my girlfriends!
Aaaww great post!!! Sometimes I’m not that great at staying in touch…..but I do have a couple of really great girlfriends!
Oh I definitely do! I’m lucky to have 4 or 5 really close girlfriends I get to see/talk to on the regular. VERY important for my mental health. :p
Fantastic post…I try my best to stay in constant touch with my girlfriends. Thank God for facebook! Love you!