When Did We Stop Making Time for Our Friends?

I had an amazing job, an amazing family, and a not-perfect-but-overall amazing life.
I made good money, had happy kids, and paid my bills on time.

So why was I absolutely exhausted?

I constantly felt like I wasn’t doing enough or being enough for someone. I knew I was good at what I did, but I never felt good enough. I worked hard… and then harder… until eventually, I was just working hard trying to figure out how to keep working hard.

I wasn’t just tired, running on a glass half empty.
I was mentally exhausted, trying to pour from a shattered glass.

And I know I’m not alone.

Women everywhere are running nonstop—trying to provide for our families, get something halfway decent on the table (what health kick are we on today… keto, sugar-free, organic… or just forget it and grab McDonald’s?), keep the laundry moving (or let’s be honest… sitting on the couch—no judgment, that counts), and stay engaged in our kids’ worlds.

Minecraft. Anime. Labubu dolls.
Meanwhile, all we really want is a hot bath and a good book.

It’s exhausting.

And for many of us, there’s also the pressure of maintaining a meaningful relationship with our spouse—but that’s a whole separate blog… or three.

The point is—being a woman is hard. Not because our lives are bad, but because even good things can become heavy when you're carrying so many of them at once.

Heavy in a way that feels like something is constantly pulling at your ankles, making you feel like you could topple over at any moment.

So What’s Missing?

I truly believe one of the things that makes it harder is this:

Somewhere along the way… we stopped making time for our friends.

The women who have seen us at our most embarrassing, most pitiful, and laugh-until-you-snort moments… they’re the ones who keep us grounded.

They remind us we’re enough in a way our spouse and kids simply can’t.

They get it.

You can tell them about the absolute nonsense you dealt with that day—and guess what?
They dealt with the same nonsense.

You can grab coffee, talk about nothing important at all… and still walk away feeling lighter.

Like that grip on your ankles loosened just a little.

We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone

Have you ever noticed when a woman talks about her “best friend,” she rarely means just one person? There are layers—work friends, school friends, church friends, workout friends. We build these circles because we need connection.

So here’s my challenge to you: make time.

Your people are more understanding than you think. They know you’re busy. They know life is chaotic. They know plans get rescheduled. The coffee date will move. The phone call will get delayed. The girls trip might not happen until the 50th birthday celebrations.

But they understand.

And Yes… I’m Going to Say It

Of course I’m going to tell you to take the trip. I mean… I am a travel advisor. 😉

But hear me out.

Sometimes what we really need isn't a week on a beach. Sometimes we need space -Space to laugh -Space to finish a conversation without someone yelling "Mom!" - Space to be something other than the person responsible for making sure everyone else's world keeps turning.

I think that's why so many women come home from a girls trip feeling lighter. It isn't because they escaped their life. It's because they got a chance to reconnect with themselves.

For a few days, nobody needed them to solve a problem, coordinate a schedule, sign a permission slip, remember a birthday, or figure out what was for dinner. They got to simply be. And that's powerful.

Travel doesn't fix our problems. The laundry is still there when we get home. The bills still need to be paid. Life is still waiting for us. But sometimes stepping away gives us the chance to catch our breath, reconnect with the people who fill our cup, and come home feeling a little more like ourselves again.

That's why I believe so strongly in traveling with friends. It's not really about the destination.

It's about making space for the people—and the version of yourself—that matter too.

Start Small… or Go Big

Call your girls. Schedule something—coffee, pedicures, book club, a weekend away, the trip you’ve been putting off. Just make the time.

Remind them you love them. Remind them you’re still there—even if life looks different now.

Your shoulder is still available. You can still split a pint of ice cream… or knock back a good martini. And your bag? It’s still ready to be packed.

If You Want Help… I’m Here

If you’re ready to plan a trip—I’d love to help.

If you don’t have a group, come with me on one of my women-only trips. Or bring your whole crew (although… quick disclaimer… “the more the merrier” sometimes turns into “the more martinis required” 😂).

No pressure. No big pitch. Just an open invitation to connect, laugh, and experience something new.

Before You Go… One Important Thing

If you’re feeling like I was in that first paragraph… please talk to someone. You’re not supposed to feel like you’re drowning.

For me, it took multiple big—and honestly scary—life changes to get to a better place. I’m always here to listen, but I’m not the expert.

If you need guidance, I would strongly encourage you to reach out to a counselor, a doctor, or a pastor.

Two things that helped me: leaning into my faith and taking time to step away and reset (yes… sometimes that looked like a trip).

And just to be clear—I’m not saying ignore your responsibilities. I am saying don’t ignore yourself.

Because that matters too.