Happy Galentine's Day Friends! In the words of Leslie Knope herself, "it's the best day of the year". Ladies celebrating Ladies. If you're scratching your head right now asking what's Galentine's Day? Do yourself a favor, open a new tab and go watch Season 2, Episode 16 of Parks and Rec right now before you do anything else. 

As much as I would like to think otherwise, I am not nearly as good at celebrating my female friends accomplishments as Ms. Leslie Knope herself, who is endlessly complementing the women around her. So, even though it is a fictional holiday, from a TV show, I am personally thankful that Galentine's has turned into a Holiday all it's own. In my city alone, there are dozens of public events being held today for the very purpose of Ladies celebrating Ladies. Galentine's day, at least for me, is a great way to hit the reset button on any feelings I have of competition or judgement I have towards other women in my life. 

The celebration of Galentine's day on Parks and Rec was my first introduction to the concept of Shine Theory, something that I have actively been trying to practice in my life. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, you need to read and bookmark this article by Anne Friedman. The concept is essentially this: "If you Shine, I Shine". Meaning, when we are in the proximity of women who are doing inspiring, chart topping, lady boss things, we also look like bosses by being close to them. So, instead of trying to push each other down and claw our ways to the top Shine Theory says we should lift eachother up? It's a lot less exhausting and frankly more fun to tell eachother how impressed and in awe we are of one another than to try put on 1000 layers of fear and loathing and try to come up with reasons why we don't like the boss lady things are friends are doing right? 

Or as Friedman writes, "When we hate on women who we perceive to be more “together” than we are, we’re really just expressing the negative feelings we have about our own careers, or bodies, or relationships." And well I don't want my friends hating on their own situations, so why would I add fuel to that flame? 

I will fully admit, sometimes this is easier said than done for me. I personally have 27 years of messed up patterns I learned from growing up in a world that told me I had to fight tooth and nail with my fellow ladies to get noticed and get anywhere (emphasis on the messed up). Shockingly similar to it's Valentine's Day, I do feel like everyday should be Galentine's Day. As someone who loves throws parties for a living, I am also thankful for the opportunity to have a day to throw a party to celebrate my gal pals, "It's like Lilith Fair, minus the angst, plus frittatas." 

And Hopefully If I get my blog game up - more on the party later :)

Peace Friends.