This Thanksgiving, we're handing the mic to listeners to find out why they value their friends! Host Janeen asked people to contribute notes on who they're thankful for, and women delivered. But, as it turns out, talking about gratitude for friendship is tougher than it seems for many. Our friendships are complicated. Along with all the shared celebrations, comfort and loyalty friends provide, a lot of women have experienced heartache, betrayal, friend breakups, and long stretches of isolation, leaving them feeling burned and alone. Yet the 'feeling' of friendlessness might actually be a mindset that we choose to stay stuck in. 

In Ep. 12, we talk about turning toward gratitude for everything that we have, in order to feel like we actually have friends to be grateful for. Instead of focusing on the people we don't have in our lives, perhaps it's time to focus our energy on those we do have surrounding us. We discuss how to turn away from wallowing in sorrow, and toward basking in your own self-worth, even if this is a season of alone-time. We discuss moving away from negative self-talk like, "No one ever calls me," to a narrative that comes from a place of thankfulness like, "I'm glad I met her, I'd like to get to know her better." It's a slight shift of perspective, but one that can truly be transformative, and it does take lots of practice.

ENORMOUS thanks to each of the brave souls who were willing to step forward and share their voices for this very special, gratitude-filled, Thanksgiving episode. Learn more at https://women-friends.com/. Follow, rate and review us on iTunes to help more women find us! Follow us on Instagram at @womenfriendsthepodcast. And be sure to join the private Women Friends Facebook group to dive into meaningful conversations with other like-minded women.