On friendship
An ongoing series considering the topic of friendship, both in general and also of the female sort
Friendship is a topic I’ve long been fascinated by. And, it’s a topic I feel like hardly anyone talks about.
I decided to start this series for these reasons. I want an outlet to wonder and guess and share experiences around friendship, a topic that affects us so deeply but that also doesn’t seem to have a proportional amount of support or conversation. I’m also very interested in the dynamics and patterns that seem to be specific to female friendship.
Over the years, I’ve collected books around this topic1. In addition to sharing personal friendship experiences, I’ll also be referencing these books for inspiration and theoretical insight. A few of them are:
Woman’s Inhumanity to Woman by Phyllis Chesler (a controversial feminist thinker)
Necessary Endings by Dr. Henry Cloud (the guy who wrote the classic book Boundaries)
Find Your People by Jennie Allen (a Christian woman/writer and a book I’ve heard great things about)
(And honestly, knowing myself I’ll probably purchase a few more along the way, lol.)
Finally, full disclosure: this is not just an interest of mine intellectually; it’s also an area where I’ve had painful experiences that I’m still trying to sort out. The most honest truth is that I’d like to use this space to process. I hope that in writing about some of the things I’ve gone through, I can not only get some clarity but maybe also normalize the messiness and pain that seem to be inherent to friendship, especially for women.
Because I’ll be sharing personal stories and because this is a sensitive topic for me and I think for all of us, this series will be kept behind the paywall (only accessible to full subscribers).
I’m looking forward to having a container to share and process on the topic of friendship. As I unloaded the dishwasher today, so many experiences and wonderings came to mind as I thought about writing this post after my kids are settled into naps and quiet time. I’m pumped.
I appreciate you as a reader, and you can always hit “reply” to this in your email and talk to me! I hope you had a wonderful long weekend if you’re in the U.S. and are doing well!
Shocker.
I am looking forward to reading this series. In my experience of motherhood, I have found myself feeling more isolated than ever before. The friends I grew up with have drifted away for a variety of reasons. Some relationships no longer resonate with me, others have become toxic, and some have naturally faded over time. It can be a painful experience. I am hopeful that as my children grow older, I will have more opportunities to nurture new friendships. Building connections in adulthood is challenging as it is, and I have found it to be especially difficult while raising young children.
Excited to read these Amber ♥️