I was listening to a podcast recently with one of my favorite writers/speakers/women leading the charge for change, Glennon Doyle. During the interview she mentioned a process regularly done in construction where the weaker, sagging beams and supports are strengthened by additional materials. The name for this process? Sistering.

I have been blessed with an amazing sister, women I call my sisterfriends, as well as many sisters in strength. A sister, biological or self appointed, is a gift. This act taken from the construction world reminds us how much stronger we are when we offer our support to each other; when we go to the people who need to be lifted, held up, supported, and say, sis, I got you. I am here. Lean on me.

In order to change this world for women, we need to support our sisters. We need to shed the idea that there is a limited amount of success, a limited amount of power and a limited number of seats at the table for women. Instead, we must join together to strengthen our sisterhood and rise up, together.

We need to stop competing, stop comparing, stop tearing down, judging, shaming and work to cultivate honest, respectful, loving and real relationships.

We do this when we are vulnerable, when we show empathy for our sisters, when we build our sisters up and encourage them, when we allow ourselves to see and be seen, when we sit with them during their worst, and celebrate with them during their best.

We are not alone in our struggles. We are not alone in our success. And it all feels so much better when shared with our sisters.

I invite you to look at the women in your life. Are they sistering you? If not, it might be time to find a new support system. If they are, tell them. Show them your love and gratitude for them and the ways they hold you up and make you better.

Your Sister In Strength,

Christa