Cultivate women friends: tiny tip for a happy, healthy old age

three women walking on a beach in New Zealand

Walking with women friends—so easy, so good

Here’s a tiny tip from Margo at that little voice blog. Sound advice! Especially if you take your women friends for granted, or have no younger friends.

Q. Imagine a younger person telling you they want to achieve a happy, healthy old age. Give your very best tip, in 30 words or fewer.
A. Cultivate women friends, both younger and older than you. They’ll support and boost you.

Q. Why did you choose to share that particular tip?
A. Most women are more open about their emotions, and they usually live longer!

Q. Did you follow any advice that you were given about achieving a happy, healthy old age?
A. No. Don’t remember getting any advice about aging.

Q. How old are you?
A. Nice to be 77.

18 thoughts on “Cultivate women friends: tiny tip for a happy, healthy old age

  1. myrak says:

    So true.

  2. Sadje says:

    This is spot on.

  3. ashok says:

    Yes, I endorse it. Having more women and younger friends has worked for me very well too.

  4. Yes I absolutely agree with you Rachel. I have kept in touch with my school friends. We keep on going somewhere or the other or go out on weekends.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      That’s fantastic. Those are very very special friends.

      1. Yes Rachel they sure are and we remember all our lovely times we had in school.

  5. Damyanti Biswas says:

    Agreed! What would we do without them at any age?

  6. Anonymous says:

    Thanks Rachel for reblogging my answers. I’ll add something to my earlier post. As a younger woman I put my relationships with men ahead of women friends. If I had a luncheon date with a woman and a man called at the last minute, I’d drop my female friend like a hot potato. As I’ve aged I’m aware that women friends are far more dependable and long lasting.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Strange to look back at that behaviour–you weren’t the only one! Wisdom kicks in at a certain age. As you see, your advice is resonating with many others.

  7. Elizabeth says:

    Be sure that some are quite a bit younger when you meet. Eventually your lives will become much more similar and they may outlive you.

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Good point, Elizabeth. Young people with potential as friends are all around us.

      1. Elizabeth says:

        It just takes remembering that they might want us as friends. When I was in my 40’s it was hard to realize that the woman in her 80’s really did value my company.

      2. Rachel McAlpine says:

        Common ground is board games!

      3. Elizabeth says:

        Good idea. They seem to have come back into style, maybe as part of the “retro” fascination.

  8. joliesattic says:

    Making close, long term friends has never been easy for me. I know a great many people but no drop in any time type friends.
    I didn’t in school either even though I get along with everyone and have many acquaintances. No confidant though. No one I could share my true, without judgement feelings with. Does that matter?

    1. Rachel McAlpine says:

      Take from Margo’s tip what you will! But if you have sisters, you have had those women friends. And good city friends don’t necessarily drop in.

      1. joliesattic says:

        Yes, I’ve learned that about drop ins, not like the old days. As you may have read in one of my earlier posts, my best friend was my sister. She’s not deceased, but the brain tumor has made it not what it used to be and I miss that.

      2. Rachel McAlpine says:

        That is sad. I’m sorry to hear this.

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