Amy Weatherly and Jess Johnston – both writers, both hilarious storytellers, both moms to many kids – connected online after experiencing tough seasons of loneliness. Even in the hustle and bustle of working and writing, mom-ing and wife-ing, they’d both discovered a lack of rich friendship connections and felt sure tons of other women must feel that way too.

What began as a shared love of enneagram, Mexican food, going commando in leggings, sharing too much personal information transformed into an online solace for women struggling to find and maintain a genuine adult friendship. In 2019 the Facebook page “Sister, I Am With You” was born, and now their thriving community consists of over 1 million followers as well as their new book, I’ll Be There (But I’ll Be Wearing Sweatpants): Finding Unfiltered, Real-Life Friendships in This Crazy, Chaotic World.

This wildly entertaining and tearfully honest pair call the book “a handbook on authentic adult friendships” – a concept that seems simple on paper but can be so hard to navigate in real life. Through every chapter, they give honest accounts of their own struggles with friendship as adults and validate how hard connection can be in a chaotic world with little margin time. But they also remind us that all it takes is one courageous step toward someone new – toward genuine connection – to build a foundation for authentic friendship. You are never too old, and it is never too far out of reach.

We talk about some of the lies that we tell ourselves as women about friendships and why desire for intimate friendships is NOT a luxury or selfish desire, but a NECESSITY.

A few lies to watch out for:

• It would be embarrassing to admit I am lonely.
• People will always let me down, so it’s better not to trust them.
• Everyone already has their people.
• I am the only one who feels this way.
• I need to be impressive.
• Popularity equals connection.
• I need to filter out my mess.
• Friends should understand when you go MIA.
• Friendship is a luxury, not a necessity.
• Friendship just “happens.”
• As a mom friendship is selfish.

But even as we take brave steps toward new friends or deeper connections with current friends, it’s easy to be hesitant because of bad past experiences, insecurities, overthinking, etc. No one wants to be rejected, but as Amy reminds us,”

What we all ultimately crave is to be fully known and fully loved, and those kind of friendships take time and faith, and courage. Amy and Jess quite literally cheer us on and coach us through as we take steps toward authentic connection. They call us to live with brave vulnerability because “the kind of vulnerability that makes it possible for people to reject you is the same kind of vulnerability that makes it possible for people to love you.”

Show up. Be there for someone you already love or someone who’s new in your life. That’s where it all starts. Just be there, even if you’re there in your sweatpants.

**Listen to Chapter 1 of I’ll Be There audiobook here!

 Where can we follow y’all & support you?

• www.illbetherebook.com
• Sister, I Am With You
• Jess Johnston
• Amy Weatherly