Girls! We are living in complicated times. The world is recovering from the ravages of a global health crisis and economic meltdown. Thus, there is certainly a renewed need for sisterhood, sister-friends and femme fraternity.
This fraternity doesn’t include just your own sisters, but the women you work with, in addition, those whom you meet in community groups, even online groups and discussion boards.
These sisters connect through their screens and their words. They connect from their respective homes wearing worn-out sweatpants instead of swanky business suits, with their teacups and coffee mugs. They chat, comment, like, share and bump one another’s posts.
These sister-friends neither live in the same neighborhood, nor the same countries. They also don’t speak the same language. Yet, they speak the common language that is, of pure sisterly love.
Sisterhood is when women who are not biologically related come together to support one another. It so happens that you may have your own sisters, mom and aunts in your life, but there are certain things that you are not comfortable sharing with them.
The reason behind not being able to open up to your loved ones can be multiple. It might be because they are at a point different from yours in their lives and are unable to understand what you are going through and your struggles.
On the other hand, the women in your own family might not be that supportive, or they happen to be judgmental.
Whatever is the reason, women need women, to talk to, laugh and cry with! They need support that comes in the form of sisterhood and sister-friends.
Being a good sister-friend means being a lot of things. For instance:
First and foremost, the greatest assurance one has with the sisterhood is that you have a safe place with them, where you can speak your heart and mind. They share their thoughts, opinions, issues, without the fear of getting judged.
Secondly, the code of sisterhood is giving and getting unconditional emotional support. Whether you are single or married, going through a breakup or divorce, facing abuse or racism, having kids, encountering parenting troubles or going through fertility issues. Whether you need practical advice or just a shoulder to cry on, they are there for you.
At the same time, the sisterhood knows your need for space sometimes. They respect that.
Moreover, the sisterhood understands how tough and unfair life can be at times. Thus, these sisters cheer one another through the good times and specially the bad ones.
Likewise, the sisterhood platforms enable you to share your funny moments. Additionally, they give you the courage to laugh at yourself, instead of one another.
Furthermore, these women believe in uplifting and empowering each other. They see their lives as a journey to learn and grow together. They allow each other to make mistakes, learn and re-learn.
They might not agree with certain of your decisions and actions, yet they still bless you. They accept you with grace and kindness when you fail and come crawling back.
Above all, the members of the sisterhood accept you who you are and where you at. Yet, at the same time, they motivate you to go for your dreams and reach your highest potential.
I don’t have a biological sister. I find it hard to open up to my partner, many a times. My friends have moved continents away and are not always available for a quick heart-to-heart.
Moreover, another thing that seems especially difficult, at least for me, is meeting new people regularly. This is because I am a freelancer mom who works primarily from home. Hence, the motherhood and freelancing forums that I am an active member in the playground where I regularly meet like-minded women.
We share, more or less, similar circumstances, aspirations, frustrations and dreams. To iterate, we are the sisterhood of worn-out sweatpants.
Surprisingly, I have never met these women in person and yet I know them, I know their stories, I know what they have gone through. Likewise, they know me. They have my back!
To conclude, the sisterhood circle is a source of light and constant encouragement. Without one another, each of us would be so alone in a dark and confusing, often patriarchal world.
If you have sister-friends that have been the light in your moments of darkness, you are lucky. If you have been the same to them, then they are fortunate to have you!
Thus, this is how the sisterhood has enriched my life. What about you?