Hey Reader,

Happy Women’s History Month! I’m so glad you’re here and grateful to intentionally celebrate women this month. Female friendships often feel like high stakes with all the emotional ups and downs.

“It should go without saying that the better you are at making and keeping healthy connections, the happier and healthier you will be," wrote psychologist Andrea Brandt.

So this week, I’m writing about my inspiration and insights from connecting with women. I’m highlighting my college roommate and best friend, Megan, who taught me so much about accepting myself and seeing beauty in small moments. I also discovered why campus life shapes such deep bonds and ways to recreate the magic.

For now, here’s a collage of friendship resources, including ways to befriend yourself:

Uplifting Writing to Inspire Healthier Relationships

• ✍️ "6 Ways Aron Helps HSPs Thrive Socially” — Remember, you're not shy; you're sensitive. We're a package deal. Figuring out how to show up in my social world more fully and authentically has been a unique and rewarding challenge.
• ✍️ “6 Motivating Reasons I Sold My Car 5 Years Ago to Start Biking” — Reflecting on my college friendships, I've found biking and living in walkable environments to be more conducive to creating closer connections.
• ✍️ “5 Books That Will Help You Become the Best Kind of Feminist” — Like any collective trauma, we have to clarify and mourn what we’ve lost before we can fully enjoy a brighter future. These women authors make me feel more hopeful.
• ✍️ “After 14 Years, I Want to Improve My Well-Being by Quitting Social Media” — Maybe deleting my social media accounts will improve my genuine, in-person relationships. The more I release social comparisons, the more I experience the quality and depth I crave.
• ✍️ “How Meditating for 5 Years Helped Me Use a Painful Breakup for Healing” — You can only love others as much as you love yourself. As I’ve leaned into deep compassion, it’s clear that self-compassion has to come first. I can only genuinely care for others to the degree I love myself.

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