It has been said that friends are the family that we choose for ourselves. Some people believe your friends should be a reflection of who you are. I believe it’s better to have friends as different as can be because they’ll serve different purposes in your life. 

Over the years, I’ve come to value my tribe, whether near or far and despite how often we talk. In some regards, my circle resembles the cast of the CW sitcom series, Girlfriends which debuted in 2000 and has been reprised on Netflix for the 20 year anniversary. My BFF of 25 years and I can go for months without speaking and pick up exactly where we left off as soon as one of us calls. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas so we don’t see each other often, but she is my personal Toni Childs. I have another friend that I met years ago while we were both flight attendants & jetting setting the world. She’s a hybrid of Joan & Lynn. If Lynn & Joan were from NY instead of Cali.

It seems as though my friendships have maneuvered over the years as have our lives. Nonetheless, my life has been enriched by my tribe. And here I was, for years, thinking I’m Joan Clayton…whole time, I’m Lynn.

The TONI CHILDS – Classy. Boujie. Ratchet. There’s always one in the bunch. Maybe it’s you. On the outside, she seems untouchable, but at her core, she can be really down to earth. One thing about her is she’s an absolute hustler. She stays about her business. From taking care of her man to having a master plan. This friend is in your circle because she forces everyone around her to level up.  

The JOAN CLAYTON Nurturer. Voice of Reason. Sunny-Side-Up. She’s likely the mom of the bunch, even if she doesn’t have kids. She’s sensible, responsible and offers sound advice. While she may not always agree with your decisions, she truly has your best interest at heart and will support you, no matter what. Her objectivity is unmatched and she has a heart of gold. By all accounts, she’s the unicorn of friendships. And who doesn’t want a unicorn around, right?

The LYNN SEARCY– Free Spirit. Social Butterfly. Hippie. She’s the sassy, quirky one who keeps the circle in the know. Whether she’s schooling the group on crystals for chakras or advocating for social change, this girl has no problem coloring outside the lines. She may decide to fly to Barcelona on a whim or start filming a documentary (both of which I’ve done). Suffice it to say this woman marches to the beat of her own drum and doesn’t apologize for it. And you can’t help but love her for it.

The MYA WILKES – Honest. Loyal. No-Nonsense. Love her or hate her, this girl keeps it real. She has no problem giving you a reality check or checking a bitch. She’ll not only hold your hand through a storm, sometimes she’s at the center of it due to her brutal honesty. And while her approach may not always be the best, her intentions are because she tells it like it is. She’s as real as they come and that’s exactly what a solid friendship needs.

YOUR TURN –> WHICH FRIEND ARE YOU? TAG YOUR GIRLFRIENDS.

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