I’ve been on a big friends kick lately. No, not my all-time favorite show that caused me to evaluate all my relationships in FRIENDS characters (“he thinks we’re Rachel and Ross, but we’re really more Rachel and Joey…) - but developing friendships. It’s something I’ve mentioned here before, and something I’ll probably continue to mention because I think it’s one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. And maybe because I missed out on really making friends in college.
High school? That was a breeze. I attended boarding school, where I led my basketball team as captain and championed change as class Vice President. I was at no loss for friends. But when college rolled around, it was a different story. My first two years were spent at a small, private school in Tennessee where I struggled finding the right group of friends…but when I finally did, I had already decided to transfer into a state school to save on tuition. Thus started my journey again at JMU, where I made a grand total of three friends. And when I moved back home after graduation, I knew no one.
So I put myself out there. I attended a ton of networking events, started my blog, took time to really get to know the people I’d met, and invested in those friendships. Not many people start a blog to make friends and develop relationships, but I did. And now, my heart is so full with gratitude for the incredible women I’ve been fortunate enough to meet and call my friends.
I met up with one of these newfound friends last week at WK Hearth, a cute farm-to-table style restaurant in Purcellville. We both arrived in similar casual outfits (obsessed with Lauren’s blog!), gabbed about our foray into blogging and accidentally closed down the restaurant after we lost track of time. That’s how you know you’ve found a true friend.
If you’re in a place where you’re feeling lonely or friendless, get up and get out there! If you’re a blogger, head to a Blogger Scene event (where I met all my favorite people, including Lauren!) If you’re a working girl (or gal) in the city, hit up happy hour with a few coworkers! Yes, spending an evening in with Netflix and take out is super alluring, but trust me on this one. Friendships bring the best kind of joy that OITNB could never fill.
On Julien: Jacket, Achro via Anthom. Tee, Halogen via Nordstrom. Shorts, Rag & Bone (size down.) Boots, Luxury Rebel. Necklace, Jenny Bird via Rocksbox (use code JULIENXOXO for a free month of jewelry rentals!)
