Carrie Fever - the plague of the friendless?

It's funny.

First, I posted my billboard advertisement for women friends like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda in my February post: Has Sex And The City Misled Us?

Then, I chronicled our freedom-filled, fun-filled SATC themed weekend in Chicago (not even a week ago -- where did the time go??), complete with pics of the crowds of women dressed to the 'nines and in groups of no less than 4 (of course) lined up to see our favorite GALs on the big screen.

Now, Irene S. Levine writes to her graduating readers to hold on to their friends: "the gift that keeps on giving," and uses us poor souls (SATC movie flockers) as an example of how women don't have enough good friends (Thanks a lot, Irene!). But, despite my bruised ego, her tips do include solid advice:

Make yourself a promise to keep up with your school chums---especially the ones with whom you have been able to share both happiness and heartbreaks. As you age and life becomes more complex and demanding, you'll realize that you have given yourself the most wonderful treasure. A few of the basics:

1) Always make friendship a priority (right up there after family). If you need a rationale to convince you, here it is: Research shows that social support and close friendships are linked to improved health and emotional well-being.

2) Get rid of toxic friendships that are consistently negative and emotionally draining. We all have one or two gal pals that are annoying to be with, people we feel ambivalent about and who probably feel ambivalent about us. Just let go of them.

3) Find any excuse to create rituals to stay in touch with the good friends. It shouldn't be a one-time affair. Make a plan to get together every month or at least several times a year. It can be on milestone birthdays or periodic girlfriend getaway jaunts. Or even the opening of a long-awaited chick flick!

4) In-between, use every way possible to stay connected via cell phones, Blackberries, and old-fashioned letters until the next time your see each other.

Female graduates: Congratulations---Go forth with your friends!

We actually had a similar discussion during our trip -- which friends are more valuable to us: the ones we've known forever and who remember our unrefined selves (braces, horrible fashion sense, deadbeat boyfriends), or the new friends whose lives may be more similar to our current ones?

The vote was mixed, but we agreed, there is merit in both types of friendships. You can certainly outgrow old friends, and you never want to be stagnant, but it's nice to remember the old times. Sometimes, it's just what I need when I feel life is getting too complicated -- go home, and trade silly, boy crazy stories with my high school friends, and feel more grounded.

However, if you're the first of your friends to get married or have a kid or advance your career, it can be lonely. And that's where the new friends come in (or, if your childhood friend develops a nasty habit or a taste for backstabbing -- enter the replacements).

If you're one of the lucky ones who has an old friend who still loves you despite your younger self, and has a life similar to the older you (career, relationship, family, interests), keep that friendship in a choke hold! -- and count your blessings.

My Rutbreakers style find: Like.com, where you can find outfits based on style and color across a bunch of different stores. Check it out!


Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com

How "Sex & The City" and a fun girls' trip makes all the difference

Sometimes, we need a moment to pause the hustle and bustle of life and just be women: feel sexy, feel confident, be gorgeous, laugh a lot, and enjoy the company of other like-minded women. The deal this weekend was to temporarily shed the daily labels - wife, mom, daughter, employee, doctor, teacher, accountant, event planner - and HAVE FUN.

Mission accomplished.

My GAL pals and I planned a group trip to Chicago to see the new movie - Sex And The City. We started our treks Friday morning from Newark, Hartford, Philly and Washington Dulles airports and by 6pm had all landed into Chicago (despite the thunderstorms trying to keep us away).

FRIDAY

- Dinner at Exposure Tapas restaurant
- Night out at Funky Buddha Lounge with ?uestlove of the Roots spinning

SATURDAY

- Home-cooked breakfast by the person who woke up first
- Walking in comfy shoes around Buckingham Fountain, and Grant & Millennium Parks
- Window shopping (okay maybe a lil' more than window) along Magnificent Mile
- Resting our feet while overlooking the city in the Hancock Observatory (including our silly, ANTM-inspired window washing shoot).


- Girls' lunch at TGI Fridays
- Home for a quick-change
- Appetizers at Lucky Strike

- MOVIE watching at AMC River East 21 (great theater). Thank goodness we pre-purchased!

- Drinks at Delacosta
- Dancing at BonV

SUNDAY

- Packing packing packing...

- Brunch cruise on Mystic Blue (complete with karaoke, the Electric Slide, and Mimosas!)




- A final toast... to bring our newfound serenity, relaxation, perspective, sense of fun, and SEXY-ness back to our real lives.

- Jetsettin' back home (thanks United, although you need more LEGROOM, take a tip from Jet Blue, won't ya?)

ONE LAST SHOT!

GALs... This trip was JUST what I needed to get me over the last piece of the rut. Are any of you ladies planning a gals' trip this summer? Do tell!


Stay tuned for the GAL tips I've been using since Memorial Day to kick off the summer the right way! We'll also have a new addition to the GAL blog soon. More info later.

Dr. Ty
From the GAL Blog
www.getalifecampaign.com