Hey Soul Sister

You know when you meet someone and you just click? Like you've been friends for years but you've just met? You open up about things that you haven't talked about with anyone, feelings, thoughts and worries. Women who understand what you're going through and give advice and perspective that is real. No judgement and no bull shit.

These are my soul sisters.

I was always that girl in high school who would rather hang out with a group of guys than with a group of girls. I wanted to fit in, I wanted to be liked, wanted to be pretty enough. I never felt good enough in a group of girls as a teenager, I was always a little bigger (not fat per se, but not skinny either), I had acne and before hair straighteners my hair was a frizzy mess. I tried SO hard in high school to fit in, to be part of any group that would have me. When I graduated high school and moved on to University I told myself to focus on school and work and not worry about making a ton of friends. So I didn't, and after a difficult break up with my high school sweetheart I lost the few remaining friends I had from high school.

I've met some great people in the last 6 months, women who have helped me through a really rough time in my life. These women are all quite different, who bring different things to our friendship and I'm grateful for each one of them. Who would have thought  that there was someone else out there that might have similar issues with family? Or that someone else might be frustrated at their spouse for the same thing? Having Mom friends that can relate to what my crazy kid is going through is amazing. Helping a new mom muddle through the tough newborn phase is rewarding, and reminds me that women are amazingly tough and can handle just about anything. I'm grateful for women who when planning a movie night to see Bad Moms decide unanimously to see Life of Pets (in 3D, without shame!) when the first is sold out. One who understands my need to go off the handle about a difficult customer or co-worker. Most importantly I'm grateful for being able to be myself. I've always felt like I needed to become someone that fit into a group. I don't really remember being myself in a group situation, I always tried to become whoever would fit best into the situation.

The age old saying "the older you get the wiser you are" is a classic for a reason. The older I get the less I care about other's opinions of my life. I will speak however I like. My husband and I will raise our daughter how we like. I find myself caring less and less about what other people are saying about me, or what they might be thinking. I live my life by my own rules. I'm thankful to have found friends who are real, and appreciate the person I am - not the person I (used to) try to be. To these women I say; I will always have your back, keep your secrets and call you on your bullshit.

We may not have a pair of magic jeans and shout "Ya-ya!" randomly, but perhaps with time and a little booze we just might pull it off.

-Ashley