Dear Girlfriends,

I hope this finds you well and happy, safe and healthy, relaxed and feeling beautiful. I hope your day is sunny, the clouds look like flowers in the sky and the person in front of you at Starbucks buys your coffee! I wish for you a day of clarity, a season of seeing your dreams become reality and a year of peace and love.

While I’m pretty vocal about my appreciation for girlfriends and I ‘preach’ (kinda like my dad!) the benefits of strong social ties, I’m the first to admit that I’m far from being the best girlfriend. I work a lot and don’t make time for you near as often as I should. As Greg says, I’m ‘in the zone’ and so focused on Girlfriendology that I don’t look up to see when you need a friend and seldom remember the details of your life and schedule like I should. While I have a birthday calendar in my office and always think of you on your birthday, I don’t make your day special like I would love to do.

And still, you offer me grace and forgiveness. Your examples of friendship, your support of my wacky life, your ideas and helpful connections – you continue to inspire me on a daily basis. You personify the mission I’m on – to build strong female friendships and to inspire women to appreciate and celebrate those amazing women (like you) who love us exactly as we are.

Thank you for the inspiration, support, grace and love that you generously give me. Thanks for reading and commenting on Girlfriendology and caring what I’m up to. Thanks for linking to my site from yours, sharing guest blogs of mine and for telling your girlfriends about Girlfriendology. And, speaking of generosity, thanks for buying me dinner or meeting me for coffee and then sharing so many great ideas for my business and for reaching my dreams.

I hope the coming year brings us together for fun memories to be made. I pray for your safety and health, that we can enjoys lots of walks, talks, meals, adventures and laughs together. I believe we only get one life here on earth and I’m humbled and honored to spend this time with you and to be your friend.

Happy National Women’s Friendship Day! Thanks for being the women who give this day meaning and cause me (the whimp!) to cry in appreciation for each one of you. Thanks for blessing my life with yours and for being there for me through my ups and downs, wacky schedules, through paychecks or poverty(!), in sickness and in health.

Imagine a world without girlfriends – no thanks. I can’t bare the thought of that. I need you too much.

Thanks to YOU for being my friend. I’m a better person just by knowing you.

p.s. Now – spread the love! Think about the women in your life with whom you can be totally yourself, the girlfriends who can change the direction of a day just by calling, the fabulous friends who made growing up much more fun, and the amazing women who inspire, challenge and support you in becoming your best self. Tell them. Call them up. Make plans. Look at old pictures and send them a copy. Tell them what you love about them and how much you appreciate them. Make this a happy and special National Women’s Friendship Day – and keep the celebration going all year!

Image by iampeas via Flickr

2011 UPDATE: National Women’s Friendship Day is NOW International Women’s Friendship MONTH.  JOIN US every September as we celebrate female friendship!