I don’t know about you but I need my girlfriends. I need time away from the humble homestead we are creating. I need time to connect with like minded women who nourish and rejuvenate my soul. I need time away to reflect on all the things I have, all the things I appreciate and all the things we are making happen. Believe me I understand it takes work and dedication to have a successful homestead but in the same understanding I know, for me, I need time to step away and regroup myself. I can’t always be doing for someone else. I have to take care of me or there won’t be any me left to take care of others.

I am of course not saying all the time but a gal needs gal time. Time away from the laundry and the dishes, the kids and the animals. Time away from the lists and the books, the garden and did I say kids? Did I mention dishes? Oh yes I did but I think I needed to mention them for a second time. When that is what you are doing everyday all day and add in the working outside of the home too. It’s exhausting and you can get burnt out. I don’t want that to happen. I also don’t want friendships that have been nurtured for many years or new ones to become stagnant. All relationships need to be nurtured and cared for the flourish. I honestly believe having time to step away from the everyday helps a person grow and become stronger, more focused and happier.

There is a great thing my time spent with friends brings to my spirit. We may sometimes sit and have a cocktail and chat about our gardens. New things we’ve tried, old things that still work fantastic and something hodge-podgey we read about and think it may be crazy enough to just work. We sometimes bake bread, go for a walk, out to lunch, talk about books, essential oils, football… Yes, my girlfriends and I are football fans. I will keep names out of this so no one gets offended. I know sports can also be one of those topics like politics and religion that can just set people off. I don’t want any part of that drama. We go to movies, we have meals together we drink tea and talk. Sometimes we go away too. I’ve been blessed with a husband who either understands or tolerates my need to sometimes get away. To let loose and have fun.

Spending time with my friends is very important to me and to who I am as a person. They are extensions of who I am and they are all quite different and I love that about them. I recently read that the people you are around the most are who you are most like. If you are constantly around stress you will be stressed. If you are constantly around confrontation you will become either confrontational or defensive. If you are with people who are consistently negative, agitated, un-driven, you too will be that way. I don’t think we realize it happens but it does. I don’t want that. I want to be around uplifting, loving, sharing, caring, empathetic, enthusiastic, energy driven and encouraging people and a great amount of that I get from time spent with my closest friends.

I hope everyone can take a little time to spend with a friend. Sometimes it’s even just an undisturbed long phone conversation and a cup of tea. Maybe that is all it takes sometimes and that’s good enough.

xo