Recently I’ve been thinking about all the groups of women I’ve belonged to over the past 50 years. It ranges from girls’ softball teams to literacy councils to just friends enjoying each other’s company. For some of the organizations, men were invited but seldom joined. It was just as well. A group of women can be intimidating in some circumstances.
It started out with a group of church girls who grew into a group of young mothers. Our kids were the same ages, so we were experiencing the same issues. It was fun to get together to talk about it and let the kids play together. We even went so far as to form a girls’ softball team one summer. The strict rule was no kids at practice. It was a respite from them while we played a game and got exercise. We weren’t great, but we won a few games. It was mostly a whole lot of fun.
Before I started my working career, I belonged to a group of women who formed the local literacy council. They were mostly retired teachers, and I was the “baby” of the group. They even elected me president for a couple of years because I was “young” which they saw as an advantage. We taught adults how to read and had a lot of fundraisers. We didn’t change the world, but we had a big impact on several individuals’ worlds.
After that, I joined quilting guilds. Those women were way better at the craft than I was. At every month’s meeting, they had all started or completed new quilts, and I was lucky to have done a few blocks. They never discouraged me, but I couldn’t keep up with them. Still, I enjoyed the female camaraderie.
When I moved to Boise, I became part of a group of women at work. We became best friends which made working even more fun. After we all retired, the Five Grannies group was formed. We got together once a month or more to share stories and solve all the world’s problems. Food and soda/pop/coke/iced tea was always involved which only sweetened our time together. We met in either in a restaurant booth or a shady back patio or a front lawn with chairs placed exactly six feet apart during covid. We did what we had to do to make it happen. When we moved away, they were the ones I missed the most.
I’ve begun to join a few groups in our new home. I found two groups of writers to gather with, including one which is only women. I look forward to getting to know them better. If I didn’t have to drive 100 miles round trip, I’d join another group of women in Spearfish every morning over coffee/tea. They are really good at solving problems and sharing funny stories and are such an interesting mix of people. I feel at home with them even though I’ve only met some of them. Others I’ve known for many years.
All this is to say that I always look for a group of women to be with. There’s something about women being together that helps us all. We understand each other. We get the problems we’re going through. There’s no one better to advise us on how to proceed with certain issues or problems. Plus no one can make us laugh like other women. It’s a support group like no other.
My “girl-time” has become an integral part of my being happy. Whether it’s with new friends or old friends, nothing is more enjoyable than being part of a women’s group. For a woman, that is. That’s why I will put aside any plans I can to be with them. It’s worth the time to rejuvenate my spirit.
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11