The Power of Female Friendships

Teodora Stetco: Female friendships have been the bedrock of my life. My longest relationships have been with my female best friends. They’re the ones who were there when I moved countries, jobs, partners, when I had to start over, they’re the ones who picked me up when I felt like I was in a deep, dark cave, and opened their homes to me when I needed some respite. They’re the ones who were present and carried me through the heaviness, when everything else in my life felt like quicksand.?What makes me sad is that there isn’t a satisfying way to recognise the importance of these relationships in our lives – there are no certificates, no ceremonies. Just a quiet, foundational, grounding kind of love that we seek solace in throughout our entire lives.

Hayley Wall: Female friends are so important in life and I've noticed that more than ever now as I am navigating the minefield of motherhood with 2 young boys. Having other women around me (both those with and without children) is priceless! I speak to most my girlfriends on a daily basis, whether it is to give each other moral support, offload our worries, cheer each other on or simply to have someone else relate to the situation I am in. I genuinely don't know what I would do without my girlfriends by my side to help co-navigate life. The feeling of having another woman’s support, understanding or even validation is second to none

Anna Babre: For me, growing up in Latvia, the term friend is incredibly intimate. You have a wider circle of acquaintances, but your friends are those who really go through stuff with you. The older I've gotten, the more I want to focus my time and energy on those that truly matter. And this is how I've built a small circle of girlfriends where we unconditionally support each other in living our best lives

Priya Barot: Female friendships have been nothing short of profound love, unconditional support and an immeasurable amount of laughter in my life. My gratitude for these incredible women is immense, and life has been infinitely more beautiful because of them.

Shannon Russell: A lot of the time women are conditioned to see each other as competition. It wasn’t until recently that I learnt the power that comes from being part of a strong female friendship group, the impact of strong female mentors and the possibilities we have when we band together and support each other. Growing up, I have always had strong female role models in my family who taught me to be tenacious, independent, and importantly to have empathy. I see these traits in my friends who are also unique and teach me something new every day. Who are always there when I need encouragement, advice or someone to tell it to me straight! I wouldn’t be where I am today without the women in my life, and I hope always to be a part of growing those types of relationships and mentalities in the future - now more than ever we need to be supporting each other and creating spaces where everyone can shine.

Amanda Faull: Women need other women. There are experiences we uniquely share, and we need this kinship. When I look back at my earliest female friendships, they were sacred to my discovery of who I was becoming, both physically and mentally. When we had ripples and fights, it felt like losing a limb. When I got older and life got messy, exciting, and intense, my female friends became my support system, there in my corner with a cup of tea or a stiff drink (whatever the situation required). We are coaches and navigators, pushing and pulling each other to find our best selves. And we are still discovering our bodies and what we’re capable of, speaking as a new mother. There are few things you can count on in this life, but a female friend will always get your back.

Kallirroi Retzepi: - For me, female friendships have been about two things:

• Being able to share victories and failures, and know that both will be met without jealousy or competitiveness but honest joy and encouragement
• Knowing that I am supported by driven, smart and respectful women, gives me the motivation I need to keep fighting for a fairer workplace

And finally, my mum and her wonderful classmates whose friendship is something I have always aspired to because it has transcended time, location and every single life milestone! These quotes have inspired me and filled me with joy about what the future holds for me and my friends.

“Do female friendships contribute to our well-being? I feel particularly qualified in answering this question with a resounding yes, as when I was an adolescent I attended an all-girls school and didn’t come across boys much. The only opportunity to meet boys really was at parties. And given that dancing was definitely not one of my favourite pass-times, there was hardly a saving grace in those Saturday night fevers. My relationship with my classmates was a different proposition. Some of them were really close friends, but there wasn’t a single one I felt hostile or even indifferent towards. We organized all sorts of activities together and I was elected president of the class for three years and secretary of the whole school in our final form. I was happy and energised among them and I really loved school, probably because I never aspired to excellence and avoided antagonisms, so I had twelve years not of perfect happiness (is such a thing ever possible?) but of almost perfect fulfilment. My friendships had a lot to do with this and, despite the many years that have gone by, and the very different paths followed by each of us, we still keep in touch.”

“ True friends are a blessing. They stand by my side during blistering freezing nights and sweet-smelling spring days. True friends shelter me during upheavals, warming my heart and enhancing my spirit with words of love and affection. True friends have marked my life deeply, always offering me a firm grasp, heartfelt words, smiling faces, walking by my side through the dark passages of life’s beaten tracks.”

“When it comes to the friendships that have emerged after all these years with my classmates, it never ceases to amaze me that we have all become rocks for each other and are always ready to help and support one another. Almost like we are joined up by a magical thread. Whenever we meet up, I always have in front of me the vision of us as children which instantly transports me back to my youth, while also feeling free from the worries I had that age. What’s even more important, is that since then, I have come to appreciate and bond with different personalities, which I discovered much later in life. The best thing about old friendships is that you don’t need to filter yourself and you are able to accept each other with a maturity that comes from having known them for so long. I feel so blessed to be a part of a wider group that is there for me and with which I share a past that has determined our future. But let’s also talk about my relationship with that one friend. The one where a look, the start of a sentence, the complete comfort with the way you address each other doesn’t require a second thought, because you know that she knows you inside out. You don’t have to add calling them on the list of all the “shoulds” that you deal with on the daily basis. Those little (but actually very big) things are what truly make you relish every opportunity you have to make a coffee and sit down and talk to them. “

“To me, there have been times where I don't?think I could have made it without the support of my friends. Anything from a hug, to a phone call, or a laugh, is often enough to keep me going. I suppose it has to do with the inherent sense of comfort, understanding and security which comes with all those years of parallel lives and experiences.?Those friendships that survive the passing of time, become something like vintage?friendships which leave one with a comfortable sense of tranquillity and unshakableness and above all a sense of loving without much ado... For the good times and the bad times... For always…”

“To my beloved classmates: I am so proud and happy that you are always there, precious and a source of stability. With our school years as our common ground. We all paved our way through life, each with our armour and joined by a thread of common values, common paths and our youth, which makes us feel unspeakable camaraderie. You are a part of my life and I can always depend on you. My companions in both joy and sorrow. Like a big family where its members are spread in different parts of the world, yet they remain close without needing each other’s physical presence. A source of strength and a shoulder to lean on that can never be replaced.”

“Friendships over the years give us a sense of continuity. They are rejuvenating and a source of joy (and fascination). Whether it is by laughing at little things that nobody else understands, a sense of security and belonging, the feeling of accepting and being accepted as we are, sharing our experiences, giving support when we need it and being able to offer support in return. The bonds created in those small moments are unbreakable. And being an only child, this bond and companionship over the years has filled me with endless gratitude.”