Finding legit friends is HARD!
Seriously…no one ever tells you that once you grow up, finding legit girl friends is tough the hardest thing ever. My core group of lovely ladies from my days at Iowa State are my lifers. I know that no matter how many weeks or months pass between actually seeing them in person, we can instantly pick up right where we left off. Between working, doing things around the house, etc. your time to go out and invest in solid friendships once your ‘younger’ days are over is limited. Plus there is a fine line between finding fun girls to grab a drink with and those who are genuine, awesome people who you can actually do life with. Sure when I’m struggling I can always pick up the phone and call my bestest & oldest friends, Brittany and Chelsea, to vent to or ask for guidance but sometimes I sincerely need some face-to-face time with another, non-related female. Since moving to Omaha, I never really went out of my way to generate long-standing friendships. I was working 55+ hours/week, had Kyle as my roomie and thought some of the girls I was working with at the time were my ‘friends.’ That word is in quotes because I learned most of them were not the types of friends I wanted or needed in my life. Then my sister Haley moved in with us and I have a built-in buddy to do everything with, so no need to cultivate any relationships because she was here! 🙂 Eventually Haley would move out a year and a half later and gone was my errand-running/clothes sharing/venting outlet. Not long after she left I began to struggle with the need for a friend but I also was exhausted at the end of the work day and with the amount of traveling we did/do on the weekends, I just never felt like I had time to go join a small group or commit to anything where there was a potential to meet some gal pals. There was such a pulling on my heart to get it together. I was lonely but not in the way most people think of being lonely…I had Kyle {& Beckett!} who was and is always willing to go on a coffee run, hit the grocery store with me and see an afternoon movie but my loneliness came from wanting someone who was going through the same point in life as me, in the SAME city.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
This verse kept popping up on me late last Fall. In the most random of times and situations. I started praying for a true ‘friend.’ Some things are just ‘God things’ I think and this was one of them because in late December I got an email from a girl, and fellow Omaha blogger at Sweet and Modern, named Gina who let me know she found my blog and wanted to just say hello and introduce herself. Little did she know {after I stalked her blog & Facebook a bit ;-)} I would take that simple email and run with it. I took a leap of faith that she was as normal & sweet as she appeared online and asked if she would want to grab coffee/wine after the craziness of the holidays died down. She kindly agreed and a month later we met up for happy hour. {OMGSH, Gina is probably cringing at this point because it sounds like a damn first date. Oh well!!!} After I got home that evening Kyle asked me how drinks were and I’m pretty sure I cried and declared that ‘I have finally found a FRIEND!’
Gina has been a saint.
No joke, this girl is the real deal, genuinely awesome friend that I needed in my life. She’s instantly become someone that I send a text to when I need to vent or need advice or have a makeup/beauty-related question. She encouraged me throughout my entire job search process, sat front row with me during Omaha Fashion Week, and is always up for wine, coffee, or Barre classes. Gina also knows about our current infertility struggles and how crappy my work life was in the Spring. I love that we have insanely hectic schedules between the both of us and that that is ok. Some friendships seem to need constant reassurance but we both know how busy the other is and we plan pedicure dates {or Cycling classes like we did last night!} whenever we get the chance.
Omg this hits home. I totally know the feeling. We go through so many friend changes throughout life. I didn’t realize this until I became a mom. All of a sudden all my friends without kids weren’t so available anymore. I am still on the lookout for a good mom friend (or a few). Quality over quantity right? So glad your were able to find Gina!
Great post!
Keala
Love this heartfelt quote, Kristen! It really is a challenge to make friends as an adult – the situations that are there when your younger aren’t there, you have to be so intentional about it. It sounds like you’ve been blessed with some of the best, though! Love that blogging opened that door for you- that just further proves how wonderful it is!
Emily
I love this!! So so true – true friends are hard to find!
xo Kelsey | http://www.chasingcinderellablog.com
So so so glad you have found a REAL Omaha friend!! I looooved being your bestie and roomie (still love the bestie part) but I remember the days when we’d bitch about not having any friends in town 🙂 As great as the boys are, they just don’t understand the struggle to find an outfit (which shoe looks better?) or “that time of the month” MISS YOU!!
You are so right. I’m with you though! I’m an quality over quantity type of girl. I love having those few girlfriends that I KNOW I can always count on. Such a sweet post, girl.
xo, Amanda | http://www.thegoldengirldiary.com
What a beautiful post girl! I totally agree! I have a core group of girls I hang out with but even though they are my very best friends they don’t ask me about my blog or anything and it makes me sad so I am so happy to be apart of SC and have friends online! I know we haven’t personally met but I consider all of you girls some of my great friends! 🙂
It is so hard to find good friends. My best friend actually lives all the way in Israel and we just figured out how to call each other on Whatsapp! Its the best
xo Jessica
http://www.whatsfordinneresq,com
Love this! True friends are hard to find!
Happy Friday!
xO – Steph
http://www.urbanblonde.com
I love hearing about Gina!! You two are too cute together!! True friends ARE hard to come by, but I know YOU are a good friend too!! XO
I love this and can truly relate! Good friends are hard to find, but once you do, hold them close!
XOXO,
Kim
simpleyetchic.com
I love this post! Having quality friends who have your back no matter what is so important! xo Jana
http://www.janastyleblog.com
This is so on point! God has really blessed me with a beautiful group of girls in my life. I’m nervous about finding new gals to hang with when we move, but I know He already has plans in place. Hugs, Kait
http://www.makeminemaroon.com
This – so hard to find genuine adult female friends but so important!
I love this!
This post is so sweet! So happy to hear you found such a gem of a friend! I can’t imagine living far from all my besties. My closest friends are from high school and I’m lucky to have a few of them still live within an hour of me.
Xo
Jess
http://www.fashionablyfitjess.com
Okay that’s it, we’re moving to Omaha!!! …. {sigh}… If only it were that simple ? So glad that you are in my life! And we are still able to make awesome memories!!” Chicago, Mexico.. Alaska?? 🙂
Always together never apart … Maybe in distance never at heart!” <3
Okay that’s it, we’re moving to Omaha!!! …. {sigh}… If only it were that simple 🙁 So glad that you are in my life! And we are still able to make awesome memories!!” Chicago, Mexico.. Alaska?? 🙂
Always together never apart … Maybe in distance never at heart!” <3
Read this again after you sent it and it still makes me tear up! You are the sweetest. So happy to have you in my life!
xoxoxo
Finding good friends is very hard. Ive been in the US since 2003, and have met many people I call friends. However I can truly say I met only one that’s my true blue kinda gal.
Great post.
XO,
Anna
http://www.blushingrosestyle.com
Love this! It is SO hard to make friends as an adult. I can also relate to having those life long college/high school friends that I can call & pick up where we last left off… but they all live so far away! 🙁 I have my husband for doing those random things but it’s kind of nice to have another female to hang out with!