The Importance of Female Friendships

A Harvard study set out to find what makes women happiest.

It’s not money. It’s not fame. It’s not the amount of SkyMiles you have. It’s not vintage Cartier (though this would have to help right). 

Turns out: real, solid bonds in our lives tend to determine the levels of our contentment. 

Longevity studies show that people who live in the Blue Zones don’t just live a really long time because of the food they eat and the wine that they drink.

A big piece of the puzzle is also that they eat and drink it with one another - together.

I recently listened to a The Diary of a CEO Podcast with Simon Sinek and learned the 3 most important organs to keep strong if you want to have a positive impact on your longevity (aka live as long as you possibly can).

I do want to live as long as I possibly can so I turned it up.

#1. Heart

#2. Lungs

These make total sense. Like of course heart and lung health are key. I workout, I’m good.

The 3rd MUST be brain, I thought. 

I was already adding crossword puzzles to my Amazon cart when he said the 3rd organ…

#3. Thighs

THIGHS???? 

See, thigh muscles are one of the most important muscle for walking. Back in the day they didn’t go on jogs for fun. They walked to their friends’ houses.

Thighs represent sociability. Thighs represent connection.

(That’s so funny, this is also the very reason I have CHOSEN never to have a thigh gap. We are chaffing all summer in the name of ultimate connection and longevity, baby.)

Our generation cares more about our health and well-being than any who have gone before us, and somehow we’re not living nearly as long as they did?

There are probably a lot of reasons, but one of them is that we’ve seemingly lost the art of true friendship and it really could be costing us. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, women with early-stage breast cancer were four times more likely to die from cancer if they didn't have support from meaningful friendships. Those with meaningful connections had significantly higher survival rates.

This beneficial effect of friendship was felt whether the friends were local or long-distance.

(Moment of silence for our college besties living states away. There’s no one like them.)

This is why it’s so important to make the time to nurture our friendships.

It doesn’t have to be a 10-day bender with the girls in Greece (but it for sure can be amen).

It can be lunch, coffee, a text or a phone call.

If you’re anything like me, actual work comes easier than relationship maintenance. There have been times that my to-do list isn’t an email sequence or a sales page, but calling or texting the girls. 

Whatever you are able to do, schedule time and make it as non-negotiable as the marketing meeting on your calendar.

It’s less about how much time we spend together and more about just making the time to do it.

Female friendships are a cornerstone of a fulfilling and well-rounded life.

Yapping with the girls is actually what the doctor ordered. 

Today is my best friend’s birthday. I hope that you all have someone who brings you as much comfort and joy as she brings me.

It’s looking like the quality of our lives literally depend on it. 

Xo, The Salesgirls