When you were in high school, chances are you spent a lot of time with your friends. You probably talked on the phone with them regularly, discussing everything from that killer biology exam to your latest crush. Maybe you went shopping together on the weekends, or went to the pool once a week in the summer.

Now that high school is behind you, do you still spend time with your female friends? If you do, that’s wonderful. But many of us stay so busy with our families and careers that maintaining friendships gets pushed to the side. Maybe we’ve grown apart from our old friends, or maybe we’ve moved far away and not made any new ones.

While our families can success at work are fulfilling, we need the support of our peers. Why? Here are a few reasons:

- Sometimes we need a shoulder to cry on. No matter how great things are with your family and job, no one’s life is perfect. When things go wrong, it’s good for us to have someone to talk to about it. Our female friends can give us advice, or they can just lend a sympathetic ear.

- Our family members and significant others do not always share our interests. Having friends that we have interests in common with can give us the opportunity to discuss them without their eyes glazing over.

- You can be yourself with your friends. As wives, mothers, careerwomen, or any combination of those three, women tend to get caught up in the needs of others and forget about the things that make them unique. Friends give us the incentive to revisit the things we’ve been missing.

Connecting With Old Friends and Making New Ones

Old friends that you’ve lost touch with are great for helping you rediscover forgotten interests. You can also reminisce about good times you had in the “old days” with them. So pick up the phone and give them a call, or email them. If you don’t have their current contact information, their families or mutual friends might be able to help.

Making new friends is also good for you. Getting out and meeting new people can really boost your morale. Some good places to make friends include playgroups for the kids, church functions, and PTA meetings.

Even those of us who can’t seem to find the time to leave the house can connect with others, thanks to the Internet. There are lots of online communities where we can go to find women with similar interests. Finding a good group can provide us with peer support that we can access at our convenience.

In today’s impersonal world, it’s more important than ever for women to stick together. Whether it’s in person or via email, connecting with other women can enrich our lives in many ways. So call up an old friend, or make an effort to make some new ones. You’ll be glad you did.
practical favors