Yesterday was my pink business partner Dana Theus’s birthday, so this is for you Dana. Many of you may not know, but Dana has been volunteering her valuable time as a marketing consultant for Magus Consulting to help Owning Pink thrive. And she does this out of pure love for our mission. So this is a post of gratitude, to my dear friend and savior. Without you Owning Pink wouldn’t be what it is today. Happy birthday love!

Girlfriends

I didn’t grow up with girlfriends. Even at 5 years old, Rusty Robbins was my best friend, the one who invited me to be the only girl at his slumber party. This didn’t go over well with the little girls, who all thought Rusty was the cutest boy in school. But at 5, I didn’t understand why they were mean to me after they heard.

Things only got worse as I got older. I was the pretty, sweet, straight A student teacher’s pet who is every girl’s nightmare growing up. I came from a nice family filled with love, gave out hugs liberally, wore my heart on my sleeve, and got asked to the big dance by the hottie voted cutest boy in school. You know the type. I didn’t party. Didn’t do drugs. Didn’t sleep with boys. Your basic goodie two shoes. But I had a sweet heart and didn’t understand why girls didn’t want to hang out with me.

Fortunately, the guys didn’t seem to care that I was a pretty virgin nerd. My best friends were all boys and they grunted and joked and carted me around in vintage Mustangs for much of my teen years.  Perhaps they were just hoping to pop my cherry, but they were kind to me and made me feel loved, unlike many of the girls I grew up with.

College wasn’t much better. I had one girlfriend who abandoned me after confessing that she was a closet lesbian with a secret crush and could no longer hang out with me unless I was willing to kiss her. My college roommate was lovely but a bit distant back in those days.  I pretty much still hung out with guys, and after a sorority gave me a bid on Bid Day, I turned it down and became a little sister at the fraternity across the quad.

Finding my tribe

Growing up, I had a sister, but she was 9 years younger than me. And the closest thing I had was my third cousin, whom I adore and was my bestest friend growing up. But all in all, I didn’t know much how to be a friend to women, and I didn’t know how to receive love from them after a childhood of feeling rejected by those who shared my gender.  So imagine my delight to discover in my thirties and forties the joys of sisterhood.

Suddenly, something shifted. Maybe it was me. Maybe it was part of aging. Certainly, Owning Pink has helped it blossom. But suddenly, killer women are everywhere in my life, and my world is so much richer.

For Dana

Dana, you are one of those amazing women. You showed up with no agenda, offering love and guidance. You led my path, held my hand, and helped me interpret the messages of dreams and intuition.  You comforted me when I was scared, reassured me when I was doubtful, and made me feel heard. When we met in person for the first time, you held me in your arms, and for the first time, I felt “gotten,” in a way I honestly never had before. Your love was at once sisterly and maternal, but with all the fun and lack of baggage that comes with being a girlfriend instead of family.  You have become my mentor, my friend, my guiding star, my business partner, my sister, and my companion on the Pink path.  Together, we have created the ultimate Pink sisterhood, not just between us, but here at Owning Pink, where every woman who once felt like I did when I was younger will see the beauty of the feminine and know that we are all stronger, wiser, and more beautifully intoned when we connect than when we compete.

And so let me offer you this birthday blessing (*inviting all of you reading to join with me*).  May this year bring new light to the Pink path. May you find peace, joy, vitality, sisterhood, mojo, serenity, and abundance beyond your wildest dreams.  May you continue to step fully into all the facets of yourself and integrate them into one beautiful whole, as you are doing as a daily practice that takes such courage.  May you be ALL DANA, ALL THE TIME, and let us bear witness to your Pleap (Pink leap of faith). May we trust one another and allow Spirit to divinely guide us as we lead this community from a place of pure love. And may you have one hell of kickin’, Cinco de Mayo good time in the process!  Arriba! (*Trilling loudly* and throwing in a Yee haw on Lovemuffin Megan’s behalf.)

Happy Birthday, Dana. We love you. (((((((((((((((((((((Dana))))))))))))))))))))))

What about you? What sister in your life needs an righteous “Atta girl” about now? Who are you gonna call and express your love to? How can we let go of the petty crap that divides us so we can remember how joyful it is to live in love?

Three cheers for the Sisterhood,

Lissa