Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, which can only mean one thing – today is Galentine’s Day! What? You’ve never heard of it? Read on…
Galentine’s Day became a thing in 2010, when an episode of the television series Parks and Recreation centered around the deputy director, Leslie Knope, throwing a Galentine’s Day celebration for her girlfriends. The party featured waffles, laughter, and an abundance of gift-giving, and suddenly women all over America and around the world were planning their own Galentine’s Day celebrations. A quick search of “Galentine’s Day” on your favorite search engine returns hundreds of branded gifts, games, clothing, accessories, party favors, spa package deals – well, you get the idea, right? You know that when we spend a bunch of time, energy, and money on it, Galentine’s Day is real. It’s a real celebration of just how important female friendships are.
In her documentary, Life is But a Dream, Beyonce says, “I love my husband, but it is nothing like a conversation with a woman that understands you. I grow so much from those conversations.” Most women would agree. But just why are women-friends so important in a woman’s life?
Emotional support
Shared experiences
Validation and affirmation
Social connection
Empowerment
Fun and enjoyment
Trust and confidentiality
On this Galentine’s Day, here are a few facts – some surprising! – about the quality and value of women’s friendships with women:
98% of women say they have a female best friend
On average, women have 6 best friends during their lifetime
The older a woman gets, the longer her women friendships last
25% of women say their best friend knows them better than their romantic partner does
47% of women wish they could spend more time with their best friend
It’s important to nurture your friendships, because not only does it help those friendships continue, it’s a way to nurture yourself, too. The daily Wellbeing Wisdom Tiny Bites podcast has some episodes about the value of friendships and ways to let them support you in your life and success. If you have 90 seconds a day, you have just enough time for an episode of the Tiny Bites podcast. Here are three you might like:
Need help seeing your life as your best friend sees it? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Need to shift your focus from famous people to friends? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
Need a reminder of how important honest friends are? Here’s a Tiny Bite for that!
On this Galentine’s Day, celebrate your girlfriends, and remember that as you celebrate them, you’re celebrating yourself, too.
Wags,
Sandy Weaver
Program Director, Center for Workplace Happiness
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