Water Cooler Chat With A Conscience

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Learning To Fly

Great girlfriends have this uncanny way of peeling off every layer of self protective bullshit that you've managed to cocoon yourself in. They peel and peel and pick and pick until you're left standing in front of the mirror face to face, bruised up knees to bruised up knees, broken pinky toe to broken pinky toe with your fatally flawed self. They force you to look at your whole self - not just the parts you like - or the parts you've learned how to enhance with a good bra, six inch heels, or MAC mascara - but the whole entire unrefined, jiggly in some places, reminiscent of chicken fat in other places, tragic collision of cells that make up YOU. And then they do the one thing that if it was coming from anyone else you'd be sure to punch them in the mouth and call them a liar - they tell you you're absolutely, fabulously, wonderfully beautiful - fatal flaws and all. Oh don't be fooled - they see the flaws, but they tell you how to fix them - and reassure you that they will be with you every step of the way. They call you out on your bullshit reasons for wanting to have a plume du nomb, and help you to see that your once believed (if even in your own head) fear of failure is irrational - and you in turn decide that of all your irrational fears, that's one your okay to part with. That is the beauty and wonderfullness of the girlfriend bond - it is sometimes like a much needed punch in the head. But once the pain passes, it's amazing how much clearer you can see. Girlfriends release you from your shit cocoon to show you that while you've been tucked away in your own personal pile of manure, you've grown a set of magnificent wings - and that if you would just take that one little peek...that one little step...that one little breath out into the world around you, you'd see that you are definitely ready to fly. You're ready for the world, and the world - well it's been waiting for you.

So, here's to my girlfriends, and the cocoon I'm leaving on a street corner in St. Louis - thank you.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

the shit cocoon - though i never looked at it that way, that's so true....great blog!

Anonymous said...

great story! hey, just got you SITS, keep it rocking!

Unknown said...

Great insight to friendship!
Stop by and say hi when you have time!

Meg said...

Hells yeah!! I just spent the weekend in NYC with a few such gems and - even tho my life is utter poop on paper right now - all is once again right in my world. Sigh... you hit the nail on the head.

Rebecca said...

Ah, girlfriends - I sometimes wonder where I'd be without them - and then I thank God I don't have to find out!

Stopping by from SITS - have a great day!

Jennifer said...

thanks for the great post on girlfriends. I feel that way about mine...thanks for stopping by my site...love to meet another fashion lover!

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

sweet :) Friends are so nice...




on a side note:

i tasted formula yesterday.. testing the nipple..

gahhhh!

all i have to say..

supahmommy- somethin's wrong with that girl said...

OMG i just realized on my second visit that I"m reading some really old materials.

lol

well.. it's a classic now I suppose!:) off to your nother blog..

HOW MANY BLOGS DOES A GIRL NEED?????

( i have 5)

jk
d

Sierra said...

Welcome to SITS, great thoughts on friendship, have a great day!

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

visiting from SITS - from one mommy to another, i am feelin' ya! great post! glad to be a follower now!

http://www.speakingfromthecrib.com

Anonymous said...

First off all, someone still roll called after you at SITS! And I must say that I was excited that you were who I got to pop in on and say hi to!
Oddly enough, my comment on SITS was "I feel like I missed out on all the water cooler gossip." You know because I was late to roll call....how weird that you were before me and this is where I ended up?! Actually, it must have been meant to be. Hope that your Wednesday is much better then the rest of the week for you!
P.S. Thanks for being one of my coolest followers!

Taryn Zerner said...

This is such a great post! So wonderfully written too. You are very blessed to have such friends!

I got so tickled at the comment you left over on my blog: that you dreamed that one of your gf's owned one of my purses! That was so cute, and that little comment made my day!

I hope to see you again!

Love,
Taryn

Neuffj said...

Stopping in from SITS, awesome post! Really poetic and raw emotions. Truer than true. Friends are just as you say and we all need them. Thank you for sharing your talent. I'm a proud new follower!The Neuff

Tina said...

You have a great way with words. I wish I could say that I have the type of girlfriend bond that you speak of, but I don't :(

Stopping by from SITS to say hello.

Has breast cancer impacted your life? Help me in my Blogging for Boobs Breast Bash next month. Send me an email if you would like more info.

Vodka Mom said...

i LOVED LOVED LOVED that!!1

And yeah, when we are standing there buck naked our girl friends will tell us that we are the most gorgeous creatures in the world.


sigh.

Don said...

release you from your shit cocoon to show you that while you've been tucked away in your own personal pile of manure, you've grown a set of magnificent wings - and that if you would just take that one little peek...that one little step...that one little breath out into the world around you, you'd see that you are definitely ready to fly. You're ready for the world, and the world - well it's been waiting for you.

Such a beautiful sentiment. So, I can only imagine how much more divine, the feeling itself.