I'm not a perfect girlfriend, by far. I don't know it all and I don't pretend to. I just know that I honestly believe life is much better with female friendship (and there are books, like The Tending Instinct, to confirm that with research findings).
So in my daily pursuit of Girlfriendology as a growing online community of women, it is always a wonderful find when a woman (without prompting or payment from me!) shows me a new perspective of passion toward 'girlfriendship.' I recently had that wonderful experience during one of our Girlfriendology Podcast interviews. She didn't write a girlfriend book and I don't believe she officially does public speaking on female friendship, but she could!
After growing up in Canada, KATE JACOBS moved to NYC, leaving her friends and family behind. She soon developed a 'family of friends' in her new city. In our podcast interview she talks about the women whom she met and the friendships they forged. She shares about her childhood friends and how she remains close with so many of them. She 'gets' friendship.
And, she also writes about friendship. Her debut novel, The Friday Night Knitting Club, was a New York Times best-selling book and celebrated friendship among knitters (and non-knitters). Her new book, Comfort Food, is about "the elegant host of a television cooking show, Augusta “Gus” Simpson, who is fending off an ambitious co-host while also dealing with personal issues with her two twenty-something daughters, Aimee and Sabrina. It’s a book about family, about friendships, about our frustrations in life and in work, and about the power of food to bring people together." (quote from Kate's blog)
So, there is much to learn from this young, friendly, warm, kind girlfriend, like these lessons I learned:
* NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE NEED FOR GIRLFRIENDS: Kate inspired me with her dedication to her friends. Even though she was on a national book tour, she had spoken with one of her childhood friends right before our podcast interview. She gets together with her NYC girlfriends. Even as a busy, successful author, she makes her friends a priority. (Kinda takes away the "I'm too busy" excuse, doesn't it? A phone call or email doesn't really take that long, does it?!)
* LEARN FROM OTHER WOMEN: Kate was an editor for several magazines (Redbook, Working Woman). Friendships grew with other women editors. They bonded together and helped each other out. No competition here, they learned from and leaned on each other. And, she continues to get together with them, even when she lives across the country.
* NOTICE WHAT WOMEN LIKE: No, this isn't advice for men, this is for us girls. Kate's books resonate with women because she understands female friendship and how women like to communicate, what we like to read, the hobbies that we love, etc. I'm sure she picked up more than just yarn/stitch advice when knitting with a group of women. Listen to not only what your friends say, but also what they mean and what they need from your friendship. Be the kind of friend that you'd like others to be to you.
Especially when it comes to the importance of 'girlfriendship,' Kate is wise beyond her years. We're fortunate to have her as a girlfriend author. Again, I'm not a perfect girlfriend, but hearing what Kate has to say about the importance of her friends, inspires me. She makes me want to be a better girlfriend!
** You can win a copy of Kate's new book, Comfort Food, in the Girlfriendology Contest. Just send in a girlfriend story and you're in the drawing for this great book. (Which would make a perfect prize - you can read, then pass along to a girlfriend!) Visit Girlfriendology for contest info. Thanks Girlfriends! And a BIG Thank You to Kate!
