It’s been two weeks and I am still basking in the glow from a girls’ weekend with my closest high school friends. I am here to tell you that seventy-two hours of belly laughing will change your life for the better. You know, after the hangover subsides.
As I boarded the plane at Logan Airport to head back to the West Coast I felt the warm rush of post-marathon endorphins without having to run 26.2 miles. I was completely relaxed – mostly due to the exhaustion of being doubled over with laughter for three days straight. Still preferable to being doubled over with runners cramps. I’ve done both and believe me, laughing is the way to go.
There is something about the sisterhood of women who have watched you go through your awkward stage and fumble your way through life that is liberating. Pretending you are anything other than exactly who you are with these women is futile. You might think you are a hot shit corporate queen now but they knew you when you threw up at the keg party while they held back your hair. It’s not to say that you might not have created just as amazing a tribe of women in your adult life – and I hope to God you have. And really both sets of chicks are indispensable when it comes to keeping your sanity.
But back to my girls’ weekend.
Picture this: eleven high school friends all turning 40 this year, hall passes from our husbands, a second-rate East Coast casino/resort with questionable nightlife (full disclosure: I may just be saying this because I did get us kicked out of one of the “clubs”), copious amounts of alcohol. And scene.
When I say I belly laughed for seventy-two hours I am lying. Because the following week of giggle-worthy texts really extended that laugh fest easily through the following Friday. I should be giving Guinness (the book not the brewery) a call.
And here is the most amazing thing to have come from that epic weekend: I’m much happier and significantly more mellow now than I’ve been in a very long time. The children aren’t bugging me nearly as much as usual. In fact, I promised my evil genius son that I would stop yelling at him even though he drives me bananas. So far I’ve been able to stick to my promise. And not because he hasn’t been driving me bananas, but because instead of losing my cool the endorphins and perspective from being on that weekend retreat is still lingering. Being reminded about what’s truly important in life has its benefits. Because it’s so easy to forget that life isn’t a race to the finish it is about savoring the journey, the laughter and yes even the chaos and madness of every day living that is exquisite and beautiful.
So if it’s been a while since you had a laugh out loud night of shenanigans with your girlfriends, pick up the phone and make it happen. Your children will thank you for it!
If you like my blog you’ll love my book. Buy The Working Mommy’s Manual on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Working-Mommys-Manual-Nicole-Corning/dp/0615637418/ref=cm_sw_em_r_dp_6ZRcqb0QFT7P8_tt
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For laughter and inspiration read my book The Working Mommy's Manual, available on Amazon.
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