Girlfriends and good health

[Redwahine]

I think the same benefit applies to electronic communities like this one


They Teach It at Stanford:

In an evening class at Stanford University the last lecture was on
the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and
disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among
other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his
health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the
best things she could do for her health was to nurture her
relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems
that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences.
Physically this quality "girlfriend time" helps is to create more
serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can
create a general feeling of well being. Women share feelings whereas
men often form relationships around activities. We share from our
souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very GOOD for our health.

He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our
general health as jogging or working out at a gym. There's a tendency
to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good
for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are
wasting our time and should be more productively engaged? Not true.
In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal
relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat
yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health!
We are indeed very, very lucky.

Sooooo let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently
it's very good for our health. Forward this to all your girlfriends
to stay in touch, just like I just did!

Thanks to all the girls/women in my life who have helped me stay healthy,
happy, and feeling very loved.

[havingfunnow]

He is so right! Women are just good for everybody's health (except, sometimes, their own -- when they're overburdened taking care of everybody else).

I haven't seen any research, but I'd think the benefit would extend to online friendships, too. Goodness knows, morning coffee here always gets me set for the day.

Women are just marvelous creatures. Hurrah for us!

[sharon]

Works for me!! I've made so very many friends on this site and I think it's awesome that I can go almost anywhere and I have friend to go sightseeing with. My ex Boyfriend said to me once, "why do you feel the need to have so many friends and to camp with people you've never met before." This was what he said when I told him about one of the GTG's I was going to a couple of years ago. He just didn't get it. He still doesn't get it and it's one of the reasons he's an ex. One of the other reasons is he has the same attitude about family. Oh well, been nice knowing ya!

[snowball]

boy is this neat now I don't have to feel guilty when I go play with the gals or spend time on the forum
but then I didn't feel guilty anyway
I truly feel blessed with the friends that I have made on the forums that I'm on
you guys rock!!
sheila

[Redwahine]

Works for me!! I've made so very many friends on this site and I think it's awesome that I can go almost anywhere and I have friend to go sightseeing with. My ex Boyfriend said to me once, "why do you feel the need to have so many friends and to camp with people you've never met before." This was what he said when I told him about one of the GTG's I was going to a couple of years ago. He just didn't get it. He still doesn't get it and it's one of the reasons he's an ex. One of the other reasons is he has the same attitude about family. Oh well, been nice knowing ya!

Pretty much my DHs attitude as well about friends and family. Except he admits he likes the women he has met so far that are members of this forum

[snowball]

you know how you are warned about those you met on line
my husband used to say when we were going to meet a forum sister
wonder if this is the axe murderer??? then after we returned to our rig would say nope that isn't the axe murder
he always enjoyed everyone he met
sheila

[avalen]

Works for me!! I've made so very many friends on this site and I think it's awesome that I can go almost anywhere and I have friend to go sightseeing with. My ex Boyfriend said to me once, "why do you feel the need to have so many friends and to camp with people you've never met before." This was what he said when I told him about one of the GTG's I was going to a couple of years ago. He just didn't get it. He still doesn't get it and it's one of the reasons he's an ex. One of the other reasons is he has the same attitude about family. Oh well, been nice knowing ya!

of course he doesn't get it, he's a man!
and I agree, girlfriends are good for our health, thats why we are WOMAN and we ROCK!

[grammynmaggie]

This is so true , I am so glad that I found this forum. Even tho I have not met you all yet (Fl GTG) I feel so welcome here. Since I have come to stay with my dad here in FL 3 yrs ago..,things have not been the greatest. I have no friends here, not close with my dad, and have been very lonely. When I worked at the hospital I had gal friends, then when I had my business (retail store) I had other merchant gal pal friends. I feel blessed to have found this site and you girls…and can not wait to meet you all and start living again! Thanks for being my friends sight un seen !!!!
Donna

[Dawn309]

Thanks Red. I believe this too. I know I would not have gotten through this last year without you all. I always knew I could turn to you and you would help me through the dark days. I am really looking forward to meeting more of you at the FL GTG face to face. I already feel like I know you so will be good friends getting together.

[cnq50b]

Have had this for a long time... Hope you enjoy!

A Tribute to Girlfriends
I sat on a summer day, drinking iced tea and visiting with my mother.
"Don't forget your girlfriends," Mother advised, clinking the ice cubes in her glass.
No matter how much you love your husband, you are still going to need girlfriends.
Remember to go places with them now and then;
and do things with them, even when you don't necessarily want to.
And remember that girlfriends are not only friends, but sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers and other relatives too.
Women supporting and relating to other women is our responsibility and our gift.
"What a funny piece of advice," I thought.
"Hadn't Ijust gotten married?
Hadn't I just joined the couple-world?
I was now a married woman, for goodness sake, not some young girl who needed friends!"
But I listened to my Mom. I kept in contact with my girlfriends and even found some
new ones along the way. As the years tumbled by, one after another, I gradually came to understand that Mom really knew what she was talking about!
Here is what I know:
Girl friends bring casseroles and scrub your bathroom when you need help;
Girlfriends keep your children and your secrets.
Girlfriends give advice when you ask, sometimes you take it and sometimes you don't.
Girlfriends don't always tell you you're right, but they usually tell the truth.
Girlfriends still love you, even when they disagree with your choices.
Girlfriends laugh with you and don't need canned jokes to start the laughter.
Girlfriends pull you out of jams.
Girlfriends don't keep a calendar of who hosted the other's last big party.
Girlfriends will celebrate for your son or daughter when they get married or have a baby, in whichever order that happens.
Girlfriends are there for you in an instant, and when the hard times come.
Girlfriends will drive through blizzards, rainstorms, hail, heat, and gloom of night to get to you when your hour of need is desperate.
Girlfriends listen when you lose a job or a friend.
Girlfriends listen when your children break your heart.
Girlfriends listen when your parents' minds and bodies fail.
Girlfriends cry with you when someone you loved dies.
Girlfriends support you when the men in your life let you down.
Girlfriends help you pick up the pieces when men pack up and go.
Girlfriends rejoice at what makes you happy, and are ready to go out and kill what makes you unhappy.
Times passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up.
Marriages fail. Love waxes and wanes. Hearts break. Careers end.
Jobs come and go. Parents die. Colleagues forget favors.
Men don't call when they say they will.
But girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My daughters, sisters-in-law, mother-in-law, nieces, cousins, extended family,
and friends bless my life.
The world wouldn't be the same without them, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other still.