Female Friendships: Unleashing the Principles to Lasting Bonds

Female Friendships: Unleashing the Principles to Lasting Bonds

Wendy Dodds:

Ever wonder why the people in your life sprout, grow, and sometimes fade to the ever changing landscape of life? Today, we are diving candidly into the joys, challenges, and profound female connections that define and shape us as we get older. That’s coming up next.

Kate Beere:

Welcome to the Living Rich Lee podcast. We’re your hosts. I’m Kate, and this is Wendy. You may I have noticed that Eric and Rob are gone. Yeah. They do.

Wendy Dodds:

Let’s do the the high five again. It’s like

Kate Beere:

it’s like we’re taking over or something. But you will see us, just the 2 of us, more often. We’re gonna start leaning into more, you know, female centric subjects coming at it with that female lens, and today is one of those shows, and I’m super excited about it. We’re talking about female friendships and how those show up in our lives, how we nurture those, how those have grown over the years. And for me, I can I can honestly say I’m super excited about today, outside of of my kids? My female friends and my family, obviously, are, like, at my heart. And so to talk about this today, and I think to share too for some of our our male listeners to understand the importance of female friendships and how they really nurture us and nurture our soul.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. Yeah. I think, that’s a great way of putting it and also how how they can support us or support their partner in in that journey, as we evolve. And just I loved what you said there for the for the opening part us to the importance of it, but also the evolution of it and how relationships and community and friendships now, in our mid forties, is so different than when it was in our twenties. And and and part of that is being okay with that. Part of that it’s embracing it. Part of that is being open to all of, you know, that shifting that happens when we do get older and how we evolve with it.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. It’s interesting. I think, you know, for me, my friendships have changed so much over the years. When I was growing up, I had, I always had, like, 1 best friend. That’s sort of my comfort zone. I am an introvert by nature, which means I don’t like to talk to lots of people. I like to I love talking to 1 person 1 on 1. So when I go to a party, I’ll find a person and we’ll hang out.

Kate Beere:

I don’t I don’t need to scour the room. So for me, friendships were always very solitary, and that includes female friendships. And I also spent a lot of time at my cottage surrounded by by boys. And so when I grew up, I actually had a ton of guy friends.

Wendy Dodds:

Yep.

Kate Beere:

And I was far more comfortable around around boys because I was I was young, I just fit in better. It was my comfort zone, it’s what I grew up with. And I remember later in life trying to navigate female friendships. And I I was lost it’s because I showed up as more with that male energy.

Wendy Dodds:

Right.

Kate Beere:

And I didn’t know how to navigate sort of the the female part of the friendship. And and then as I obviously got older and into my thirties, you know, different friendships show up. Up and then now into my forties, you know, friendships have evolved even further. But it it it is a journey of of female friendships For me.

Wendy Dodds:

It is. Yeah. And, you know, we we we start in high school and, you know, we we both have kids that, are in high school and kinda seeing our kids go through, that need to be liked, that need to want to have people around them. Social media, of course, is a, you know, big player in that as well, which then kinda stems from, you know, how many likes so we’re getting, and how many followers do we have, and how many friends do we have, right, and just that need to be liked so desperately, for for many people, when we’re kinda in that high school phase and then and then transitioning as as we get older and you go through, you know, those different stages of life, I mean, my friendships now were so different. Mhmm. And it took me a while. So interestingly, the, you know, one of the episodes we did was around forgiveness

Kate Beere:

Yeah.

Wendy Dodds:

And being okay with recognizing that it’s it’s okay that not everything today is gonna be the same as it was 10 years ago or 20 years ago and celebrating what you experienced when you had it and then being okay that other things have evolved and new people come into your life. Like, your circle of friends sometimes is is very close, and for some people, it’s the same. I think you and I have had this conversation before around your friend circle, and correct me if I’m wrong Yeah. Has been very solid, and some like, you guys have grown up together, if I remember correctly.

Kate Beere:

So it’s a bit different. So I I have a solid group of friends I’ve known for 20 years.

Wendy Dodds:

Right. But

Kate Beere:

what’s what’s interesting is is that so, yes, I have that consistency, but I also have but I also have some, like, some of my closest girlfriends today I’ve met along that path. Right? And they have you know, as you evolve, you start attracting different different people, different different friendships into your life. I remember my mom said when I was young, and it stuck with me. Well, 2 things. 1, she said, your female friendships are like no other friendships you will ever have, so cherish them, Which I now get as I get as I get older.

Wendy Dodds:

Amazing how we reflect back, a, on things that our moms would tell us.

Kate Beere:

And then the second was she’s like, friends will come in, for I’m gonna get this wrong, but, like, for a season, a reason, or a lifetime. And it was to embrace all of those things. And that, for me, gave me permission to when, you know, over time, some friendships dwindle, lifestyles change. You have kids, they don’t. Not whatever. Someone moves away. There’s just things that can get in the way of some friendships, and and that gave me permission to be, like, okay with it, that that’s the evolution of that. Right? Or some friends show up when you’re in crisis or going through something, and then you’re you know, you come together, and then the next thing you know, you’re going apart again.

Kate Beere:

Right. And and maybe will flow back again. Like, that’s what I I love about about friendship.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. One of my, closest friends, so let me let me start off by saying, you know, for a lot of people, 1 room in high school, it’s about having, you know, being, you know, popular not everybody, but you you wanna be light. It’s just the natural tendency of growing up. Yeah. And then, you know, as life evolves, it becomes is more I’d rather have 4 quarters than a 100 pennies.

Kate Beere:

Right.

Wendy Dodds:

And so one of my quarters, because now I’m at a stage in my life where I have, really shifted friendships to to nobody’s fault or anything. I think a lot of times as women, you know, we talked a lot about guilt, but to nobody’s fault, and and it’s just how life has evolved, but one of my closest friends, we go through the ebbs and flows of sometimes we will go months without talking. Yeah. And I love the friendship that we have because she’s the type of person that I don’t have to feel bad if I don’t text back right away. If she texts it’s me. I don’t feel like, I’m okay with sometimes it’ll be weeks before it. Nobody takes it personally, and we just pick right back up where we left off, and I just find that so refreshing where there’s no expectations on how, I I was gonna say how I behave. That’s not what I meant, but how things need to be, where I just know I could call her at 3 o’clock in the morning, And she would be there for me, but it’s okay if we go several months without talking.

Kate Beere:

Well and I think that’s one of the things, you know, we can talk about a few characteristics of really, like, what what we cherish in our friendships, but I think predictability of how someone will show up is is is so necessary. So it’s like you you know how each other’s gonna show up, and you’re both okay with it. Right. And that’s what makes the dance work. Right? Because you it’s predictable. You know if I if you call her at 3 AM, she’ll be there. You also know if I if You know if I if you call her at 3 AM, she’ll be there. You also know if I if you don’t text her back, there’s no there’s no harshness.

Kate Beere:

Everyone gets to show up exactly who they are, how they are, and that in there’s comfortableness, right, in that predictability. Yeah.

Wendy Dodds:

That comfort piece is so, it’s a source of stability. Yeah. It’s a source of stability. Yeah. And it really allows you when you do have that community and and so there’s probably a lot of people listening. How do I find that community? How do I kinda shift away from Yeah. Maybe friendships or community where I feel I have them more out of obligation Yeah. Than necessity?

Kate Beere:

Yeah. I think, you know, we always say this, and we call it unnecessary endings on the show a lot. But there there’s times that it’s okay if your friendship kinda fizzles, and it it’s okay. It doesn’t mean it’s gone. It’s just it’s you know, I as we talked about earlier, the ebbs and flows, I really truly believe that happens a lot. It happens in almost every relationship we have in our lives. So we we you know, our friends fall into that same boat. I think it’s okay to let go of friendships that aren’t serving you, that are not healthy for you, you know, if friendships feel more like I have to, I should, I must, to me, I would I I think I’d start asking myself, okay, well, what am I getting out of this friendship? Right? Like, where why am I feeling this way? And start Listening to that, so I think the 1st step in in sort of, you know, finding your community of women is maybe letting go of of some friendships, I’m not suggesting anyone needs to get rid of any friendships.

Kate Beere:

I’m just saying Yeah. But it’s good to ask yourselves those questions to be like, okay, why am I feeling this layaway? Why am I feeling like this is something I don’t wanna go do?

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. So I had somebody ask me that, several years ago around, well, how do I let go of those people in my life where I feel like I just can’t, but I’m keeping that friendship kind of burning, but it’s not really burning because I’m always having to put wood on the fire every or I I feel like it’s one way or we’ve just we’ve shifted so much. And and there’s no there’s no right or wrong, but I think just letting that naturally evolve both where it’s okay if you’re speaking a little bit less. It’s okay if you’re not seeing each other as much. You know, I don’t, you know, now every situation is different, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have a conversation, say, okay. So we’ve been friends now for x amount of years, and and now it’s done. Like, I’m not suggesting that, but I think it’s okay to just naturally let that fizzle out Yeah. Because, going down different paths isn’t always a bad thing and celebrating what you did have at that time.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. I think it’s kinda like both of our marriages that we were in before, like, celebrating the years that you did have and not just, oh, now all that’s gone. Like, think we’ve moved on, but celebrating that period of time when it was a big part in your life.

Kate Beere:

When things were great, And then it’s you know, I have friendships I have when I was married that I don’t have anymore. Yep. They just fizzled or were shut down or cut off entirely. That’s part of divorce, unfortunately. But you get to see who your true friends are and who shows up for you. You know, the whole get to mindset was founded, you know, really around Tanya, who my girlfriend who passed away. But through Tanya, I met this phenomenal group of women, and we’ve been friends for over 20 years. And we’ve navigated a lot of the ups and downs.

Kate Beere:

And I think the beauty of female friendship is we talk about everything. We you know, we’ve navigated, I don’t know, death, marriage, birth, kids, illness, you know, divorce, you know, miscarriages. We we just we talk about everything, and having that community of women for me has been my foundation. It was my foundation through the divorce, for sure. Without them, I I honestly don’t know how I would I just would’ve come out differently from it.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. But

Kate Beere:

for me, you know, knowing that in over 20 years, we can talk about all kinds of things. But also my girlfriends that I’ve known for 10 years or 8 years, we still have that same level of intimacy, and we still have those conversations, and we still laugh a lot. Yeah. The ads.

Wendy Dodds:

Well, that’s so that’s such a healthy part of, those types of relationships is being able to laugh at yourself, being able to laugh at the silly things, and just being able there’s nothing more freeing than just feeling like you can let loose and just be your authentic self without any judgment, without any, you know, hesitation around how am I gonna be looked at, perceived. Of course, it’s different. You know, when you’re a teenager and you’re, you know, you’re always, oh, I don’t wanna look silly. I don’t wanna look stupid or they’re gonna make fun of me, and you get to that stage in your life when you have that right tribe and community, knowing that the tribe that you have, you know, should always clap for you, should always wanna see you Cheer you on. Cheer you on, right, without that, you know, feeling of jealousy or, you know and and women do a pretty good job at cutting each other up, like women and And females and girls and, you know, I see it with my daughters in in high school right now, can be mean.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. They can.

Wendy Dodds:

And so really learning how to kinda navigate, again, what serves you and where you want that good energy to come from.

Kate Beere:

Yeah.

Wendy Dodds:

And finding those people you can laugh with and be silly Really well.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. And just be 100% who you are with. I think, you know, I love when you talk about women celebrating other women because that’s just such a huge one for me. What I also love is the flip of that, whereas my friends will hold hold me highly accountable to they’ll call me out on stuff or they’re, like, you know, not in a mean way, but they’ll they’ll they’ll question me. There’s been a few times where they’re like, what you know, like, literally, what the fuck are you doing? Like, not a good move. Right? And you want those people in your life. You want the people that are gonna, you know, call you when you’re making a bad decision Yeah. You know, after a few drinks.

Kate Beere:

It happens. Right? So, like,

Wendy Dodds:

we all need a little bit of a new up, and it’s all fine.

Kate Beere:

But that for me is equally important in a friendship because it’s honest conversation. Yep. And when women hold other women accountable, I think it’s done in a way that’s, like, it’s direct, but it’s also so warm because you always you know, in the moment, you might be, like, mind your own business. But then afterwards, when you can look at it, you like, there’s so much Hard behind that account.

Wendy Dodds:

So much. And it’s yeah. It’s like anything in life in terms of that feedback that we get, is sometimes hard to hear, but knowing that it’s coming from a place of service and knowing that it’s coming from a place of, okay, maybe I need a reality check. I know, you know, same for me. I sometimes need to be put in my place or I need that reality check from those people in my life, you know, that group of, you know, women that I have. Yeah. Because sometimes that’s what we need. Sometimes we need somebody to call us out on our own bullshit, and and sometimes that helps push us to the places that we wanna or make the decisions that we know we should make but we don’t wanna make, and just having that the team and that support behind you.

Kate Beere:

That unconditional support behind you. Yeah. And I know, you know, for some of our male listeners out there, I was recently reading super interesting. We’ll put it in the show notes. It was from UCLA, and they did a study. And it showed that in high stress situations, women tend to wanna tend and help, and men go to fight or flight. What they found was there was a link to, I’m gonna get this wrong, oxytocin. Yes.

Kate Beere:

Because I’m not a scientist

Wendy Dodds:

or a medical doctor. Disclaimer.

Kate Beere:

Just a disclaimer. Oxytocin levels, are higher with the presence of estrogen. And with the presence of testosterone, oxytocin levels go down. And so what’s fascinating to me is that’s your happy, like, right, that’s your I feel great. I’m I’m all warm and fuzzy. So when we’re helping in high stress, we’re actually feeling really good about ourselves, and men are feeling they don’t get the same high that we get. Right. And I found that so interesting because I was I was like, that’s fascinating to me.

Kate Beere:

Because no wonder women, like and I’ll I’ll make an overarching statement, our more tend to be natural caregivers because we’re actually getting a bit of a high

Wendy Dodds:

off of it.

Kate Beere:

So I just I found that so fascinating just there that there’s sort of, like, you know, a hormonal difference that you can clinically talk to about in those situations.

Wendy Dodds:

But I think that’s a great point to bring up because, you know, women will often say these relationships are important to me, but I either feel guilty about taking time away from the family to so, you know, talking about how we nurture those. Right? Yeah. So letting go of the guilt and and having your partner be able to recognize that it’s such a healthy state for us to begin, where we’re not consuming all of our energy and, you know, our entire life on our kids or on our partner or on our jobs, and that’s such a crucial part of our well-being and learning how to nurture that. And, of course, we all laugh as women. Right?

Kate Beere:

And and

Wendy Dodds:

I know the group of, you know my my my main, circle of friends, there there’s a group of 4 of us, and it’s well, I guess we’ll make plans now since the next time we see each other will be Easter. So, so, you know, then we laugh. And let’s make sure that we do it before 7 o’clock at night because, you know, we’ll be tired and, you know, then it’ll be time to go to bed. But so we joke about that, but really and truly learning how to make it a priority to carve that time out even if it’s just for 2 hours.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. And it’s it’s hard. And I will say this, like, through the ebbs and flows of my longer term girlfriends, you know, young kids, older kids, teenage kids, divorces, is this your week with the kids? Is this my week? Like, figuring out life. Right?

Wendy Dodds:

Yes.

Kate Beere:

There’s times where we can see each other more. Right? And there’s times where we see each other less, and embracing that and being okay with that. No pressure. Like, we tried monthly brunches for a while. I feel like it failed epically after a few. Like, we tried so hard. And now I I feel like we’re we’re getting back to seeing each other coming out of COVID 2. Obviously, there was a lot of, like, not seeing each other.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah.

Kate Beere:

And now we’re starting to kinda get back into, you know, kids are older, more casual gets togethers. We’re actually going to an ABBA cover band on Saturday, which I can’t wait. So yeah. So doing those kinds of things are starting, I would say, to come back and flow back, and it’s so important to carve out the time.

Wendy Dodds:

It is. And it because we all know the work is always there, the housework is like, that will never change. You reach a certain point in your life where you just know all of this shit’s still gonna be here. Yeah. Where where are my priorities? And being able to share that with your partners so that they know Yeah. That in order for us to be able to pour more into them, it’s being able to fill our cup with the other things that are super important to our well-being, our mental state, our emotional state, And having those female friendships and having that community is crucial.

Kate Beere:

It’s a sounding board sometimes.

Wendy Dodds:

It is.

Kate Beere:

And I I remember Eric and I talked about this. But for me, it’s a sounding board for our relationship too. Like, for Yep. Sometimes I just I need an ear on something, and it’s not something I can talk to him about, not because we’re not, you know, clothes are not having those conversations. It’s just it’s something I’m dealing with, and I I need another woman’s perspective on it. I need their insight. I need, like, can you help me navigate that? And so for me, it really becomes, it’s you know, you think of all like, when I think of community, I there’s so many legs in my community From, you know, Eric, my kids, my family, my girlfriends, like, there’s just so much in there. But my girlfriends give me a lens that’s raw and real and funny, and, I need that.

Kate Beere:

It’s like it is food for my soul for me. I I know after a night out with my girlfriends, I’m just I’m full. Yep. And I love that feeling. It’s like a feeling of joy. And I’m I’m I’m not suggesting we don’t have hard conversations because we do. Often, someone’s crying about something because that’s just that’s how we that’s how we’re communicating and we’re and and, you know, we’re all going through our own stuff, and so there’s a lot of joy, but there’s also a lot of love. And so that creates a lot of conversation, which can lead to at times, like, that that’s part of that amazing comfort level that we have.

Wendy Dodds:

Which is healthy. Yeah. Right?

Kate Beere:

You know,

Wendy Dodds:

a lot of people think, and and, you know, I I share this with my kids often, just because somebody’s crying, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad thing. Yeah. It is such a release of energy and and it’s healthy to be able to do that. And then to be able to do that with, you know, your friends is even and sometimes it’s just crying from exhaustion because you’re so tired of just being on all the time and doing all the thing, and that’s okay too. Yeah. But really celebrating where you’re at. And this kinda morphs into kinda my next question around, like Yeah. A lot of people will ask, well, how do you find those people? Like, I feel like and I’m sure you’ve heard it before too.

Wendy Dodds:

But I feel like I haven’t found my tribe. I feel like I I don’t know I feel like something’s missing. So how do I find that community. How do I find that tribe? Or how do I find people that connect with me?

Kate Beere:

Yeah. I think it’s about, You know, as I said, I have a solid group of girlfriends, but I’ve also, you know, met lots of girlfriends along the way, who I’m super close with, and I think it’s it’s about being open and being, you know, open to connection, open to grabbing having a drink, going for coffee, going to workout, whatever that looks like, but open to spending time with someone new because you have to be able to open up to, you know, let friendship in. So I think sometimes that can show up at work. I know a lot of us work from home now. That can show up at the gym. That can show up, you know, if you have an interest, if you’re interested in photography, go take a us, and it really is about putting yourself out there, and it is about reaching out. And as women, we’re not very good at asking for what we want. There’s a theme for help.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. Right.

Wendy Dodds:

I mean, I ask for help all the time. Right. I don’t.

Kate Beere:

I am not. I’m on my own lawn.

Wendy Dodds:

I don’t. Thank you.

Kate Beere:

I was like, I could do that for you. I’m like,

Wendy Dodds:

I got it. How are you? I’m fine. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.

Kate Beere:

Right? But I think it’s the same for friendship. Like, if you’re you’re seeking closer or just, you know, you you’re looking for something new. It’s be open and just try. You you date friends like you date your person you’re gonna be with, and not everyone you date is gonna be your person.

Wendy Dodds:

Right.

Kate Beere:

I think it’s the same for friendship. We’re not meant to be, you know, close, close, intimate friends with everybody.

Wendy Dodds:

No. And and I think recognizing that and being okay with that. Yeah. You’re gonna have not just friends in different seasons, but also different friends that you’re gonna know who you can count on if you’re struggling with a certain problem or, like, you know Yeah. You know your friend that you can call if you need a good laugh. You know your friend that you can call if you’re in a crisis, you know, and and being okay to open yourself up to that and then finding so, you know, when you you mentioned photography Yeah. Somewhere along the way of life, we forget about the things that

Kate Beere:

We love it.

Wendy Dodds:

We like to do and that we love to do. We forget about our hobbies and our passions and especially when we’re raising kids and Absolutely. And we’re working, all that kind of stuff, and then all of a sudden the kids get older. You know, I see it now with my girls where I don’t see them as much anymore, and it’s about reigniting that fire and that spark about things that you love to do. What did you love to do before you got married and had kids and had your career and all of those kinds of things? Right? And there’s so many, groups and there’s so many things out there. I mean, social media, you know, we we joke about it as kind of the the, you know, sometimes the that’s not so great, but it’s also really good for, finding groups, finding networks because, To your point, you have to open yourself up to that and allow that kind of joy to be able to flow through and find something find find things that you feel bring you energy and bring you passion and bring you joy that then allow you to open up To meet new people Yeah. Which is really hard for some people.

Kate Beere:

It is really hard for some people. I think one lens to look at it too is is it’s proven that community and friendship is good for your physical health. So we we know that, Eric and I are watching a documentary. I forget what’s something something blue zones, but it’s all around these blue zones all over the world which have these pockets of people who live to 90 years plus, but they’re all in one area. So there’s this researcher that goes out to try and figure out, okay, is it DNA? Is it is it what they’re eating? Is it what they’re drinking? Like, trying to figure out the big mystery. And there’s lots of factors, but 2 big ones are movement, walking, not gym, but walking, like, just movement period, and community. Mhmm. And so all most of the blue zones, they as parents age, they live with their kids.

Kate Beere:

They or they live With other, you know, older I don’t wanna offend anyone, like, elderly folks. Yeah. So they’re all living in community.

Wendy Dodds:

Yep.

Kate Beere:

In Singapore, the government has is giving a grant out so that, parents can live close to

Wendy Dodds:

their kids so that they

Kate Beere:

can afford to do it because it’s preventative care so that it doesn’t their health care system doesn’t get overrun as the population is aging. So thinking about it from that lens, we know the power of community too, just in our personal health because it feeds us. Yeah. So when you’re seeking out friendship too, I think it’s important to look at it from that. It’s the same as as, you know, taking care of your health, what you put in your body, what you feed your mind, who you hang out with is is or spend time with is equally important.

Wendy Dodds:

Yep. Yep. And I would say if you if you don’t have those people in your life that you feel aren’t relating to you in terms of whatever it is that you’re going through, that it’s okay to seek out other friendships, to seek out other communities Yeah. To seek out, not in a way that’s overwhelming where then you’ve kinda got your, you know, your hands and everything because as we know, overwhelmed women do nothing.

Kate Beere:

What what do you mean?

Wendy Dodds:

What do you mean? I don’t know what you’re talking about. But finding 1 or 2 things that make you feel great and being okay with being open to that kinda awkwardness at first when you’re meeting somebody new. Yeah. But, you know, going into those new communities and stuff and then recognizing that once you get to that place, you know when you have found your tribe. Babe You will know. You know when you have found your community, and and and it’s a difficult feeling to describe, but you just know. You you women are very intuitive, and we just

Kate Beere:

You’re home.

Wendy Dodds:

You just

Kate Beere:

You’re home. Yeah. You feel 100%, like, you can be yourself. And I think, ultimately, showing up as you are and being accepted for who you are, that’s your tribe.

Wendy Dodds:

It totally is. And it has nothing to do. So sometimes as women or oftentimes as women, all the time as women, we tend to do things out of obligation, holding on to things and and relationships, friendships, anything around that, that don’t serve us Yep. Can feel very exhausting. And so for a lot of people who sometimes think, but I’ve been friends with this person or this person has been in my life for 20 years Right. But I feel like we just don’t relate anymore. And and if you ever find yourself in that situation where you get a text from somebody and it’s like, hey, let’s get together, and you’re like, but I don’t want to. Then that is a sign that things have shifted.

Wendy Dodds:

So it’s not necessarily about who you’ve known the longest. That’s right. Like, solid friendships and community, it’s not about who you’ve known the longest. It’s all about the breadth and not the depth. Like, you could know somebody for 2 years and know more about them and be closer to them than somebody that you’ve known for 20 years. I couldn’t And that’s okay because the short time Yeah. Sometimes. Yeah.

Wendy Dodds:

Right? Short time versus long time doesn’t always equal bigger impact.

Kate Beere:

Yeah. And I think it’s critically important, you know, if you have close friends, it’s in critically important that you also nurture them and spend time with them. And You have to. And you have to honor them, and I think that’s really important.

Wendy Dodds:

Yep. Scheduling Yeah. Carving that time out, communicating with your partner. I know we talked about this in one of our last episodes around sometimes we feel like our partners like, sometimes I’ll think Rob knows what I’m thinking. Doesn’t he? I don’t know why he’s not a mind reader, but but we we see that sometimes, right, where we think, well, I don’t understand why they don’t know what I’m thinking. Being open to communicating that to your partner, your spouse around this is important to me and this is why it’s important to me because they don’t always understand, and they’re not gonna understand. Yep. Number 1, because they’re boys.

Wendy Dodds:

Yes. Sometimes boys don’t understand things. What? Except Steve, he understands everything. Right? Steve. Yay. But making sure that you’re articulating that and you’re communicating that as to why That’s important to you. Yeah. That’s such a great way for you to be able to nurture it.

Wendy Dodds:

And I think we already touched on this, but, yes, when it gets really busy, it’s so easy to put things on the back burner. But how much of a priority do we make it? Because it totally is Part of our mental health and our self care.

Kate Beere:

100%. 100%. I think we’re gonna wrap it up as we’re getting near the end of the show. I wanna, I wanna just give a huge shout out to my girlfriends and say thank you for all that you do, all of the time in my life, I cherish our friendships beyond this world. So thanks. That’s just my little my little piece of it.

Wendy Dodds:

I love that. I love that. And since you’ve

Kate Beere:

done that.

Wendy Dodds:

Yeah. You have shout out to my tribe as well. You know who you are. You know who you are. You’ve been through me with me through some of my darkest times and, some of, my toughest times, but have also been there to make me smile, cheer me on, and, just, to treasure and value it so so much and so deeply, even if we don’t see each other every single week. That’s it. Big part of my life. So thank you.

Kate Beere:

Thanks everyone for joining us today. If something resonated with you, you took away a tidbit, please share with your friends, sharing is caring as we say on the podcast. So please like, share, and subscribe. That way, you’ll get all the latest episodes directly to you. You can also check out, our website at living richly dot me for all of the show notes, and, also, you can take a peek at some of our previous podcasts. So with that, thanks again for joining us, and continue living your best life.