Yesterday we got down and dirty and revealed our 2011 vices; today we’ll wipe the slate clean and talk about what personal virtues we discovered in 2011.
What good have you done in 2011? Where do you really shine? What have you done that makes you proud of yourself? We know you’ve got it in you! How will you resound?
I’d say maintaining and cultivating female friendships this year makes me proud.
I created a platform for creative women in my town to gather and have fellowship with each other. There are eight of us and these friendships are invaluable to me. They provide feedback, support and encouragement where I’ve lacked it. They make me feel less alone in this small hippie meets country town. We are different, but have commonalities. They make me feel loved and cherished. Almost all of us are married and some of us have children, and all of us run full-time businesses yet we make time for each other. These are “yes” women and I’m proud that I’ve made time for them.
The other friendships that I’ve maintained are with those I’ve known for a very long time. As I look over photos from the year, I see moments with them that we’ve created. Visits to their homes, to cities in the middle, to pumpkin patches and farmer’s markets, hours long lunches and birthdays. And again, making time and planning for these moments this year makes me happy.
And last, but not least. Getting together with online, turned real/offline friendships. Trips to DC and Lexington, holiday swaps and pod casts. These times are invaluable to me. We laughed until it hurts. We crack jokes at each other. I look forward to more of these gatherings next year.