Friendship, Bravery, and the Shifts We Don’t Always See Coming

August 1 is National Girlfriends Day…a day created to celebrate the women in our lives who show up, lift us up, and walk beside us in every season.

While the exact origins of National Girlfriends Day are unclear, the spirit behind it is timeless: honoring the bonds of sisterhood, support, and shared experience. It’s a reminder to appreciate those relationships that hold us together when life pulls us apart.

But here's the truth - those friendships change.

They stretch. They shift. Sometimes they quietly fade.

And sometimes, they end in ways we didn’t expect.

As women, our friendships evolve as we move through life.

Childhood best friends.

High school confidantes.

College roommates.

Then work friends who become our go-to lunch crew, our after-hours therapy circle, and our weekday lifelines.

If we become mothers, our worlds shift again - suddenly we’re forming new bonds with the parents of our children’s classmates or teammates.

Through each chapter, we often carry both the joy of deep connection and the quiet ache of letting go. And sometimes - let’s be honest - we get it wrong.

We hurt each other.

We don't give enough grace.

We avoid asking for help even when we need it most.

We feel envy, even when we genuinely want to celebrate others.

That doesn’t make us bad friends. It makes us human.

The bravery is in acknowledging it. Owning it. Choosing to grow from it.

I’ll be honest… my own core group of friends has shifted. I’m still working through how to talk about it in a way that’s honest but not hurtful, reflective without being reactive.

What I can say right now is this: just because a friendship changes doesn’t mean it failed. Sometimes, it simply served its season.

If you’re navigating a friendship shift - or grieving one - know you’re not alone. These changes don’t make us less loyal, less kind, or less brave. They make us women who are evolving.

I hope you’ll take a moment to reach out to someone who’s made a difference in your life - or to release any guilt over a friendship that no longer looks the way it once did.

If you’re carrying the weight of a friendship that’s faded, or if you’re feeling grateful for one that’s never let you down, I’d love to hear your story.

Sometimes sharing is healing. You can always reach out to me if you want to talk or simply be heard.

Bravery looks like friendship in many forms. And BWP is here for all of them.