Dear Girlfriend,

From classes to festivals, canvases to collections, billions of dollars are spent on art every year. Passionate artists dedicate their life to the pursuit of creative expression. Legislators are lobbied to keep arts education alive. And even political lines can be drawn in pen and ink.

Art isn’t on the basic food groups, it is barely part of the tip of our hierarchical needs (for self-actualization) and serves no ‘real’ role in survival. However, we decorate our homes with it, teach our children to create it and stand in line to see it. We define our culture, tell our history, express our emotions and feel passionately for or against it.

Like art, friendship holds no vital role in our survival or basic needs. However, again like art, without friendship our lives would lack color and beauty, we’d never experience the emotional inspiration shared only by close companions and we’d miss out on the happiness they provide.

What friendships bring beauty in to your life? Whose friendship could you not survive without? Create a ‘masterpiece’ friendship - by recognizing the inspiration and appreciation it makes you feel. Put that friendship in a prominent place in your priorities and life. Because … life really is better (and more beautiful), together with your girlfriends!

Have a beautiful Thursday!

Girlfriendology

p.s. Join your girlfriends on Girlfriendology, Facebook.com/Girlfriendology andLinkedIn/Girlfriendology. And, show your girlfriend gratitude in 140 characters or less in our December contest! (Oooh, did you see the prize?)