MenoShine WOW: It’s over to YOU!

For the last six weeks, I’ve spent my Sundays writing about my best friends in the world, (aka The Posse - you can binge the WOW posts and you won’t be disappointed - they’re an incredible bunch) and my mum. Honestly, as nice as it’s been to introduce them one by one each week as a MenoShine WOW (woman of the week), it’s also been incredibly cathartic to write.

It’s not that I’ve taken The Posse or my Mum for granted. I often reflect on how lucky I am to have such a supportive mum and an incredible group of friends. But writing about them each individually and showing how I see them through my eyes has inadvertently opened my heart even more.

As I’ve been planning out my MenoShine WOW posts (and watch out because I have SUCH a good line up of phenomenal women to celebrate), I’ve been reflecting on how a core group of ‘besties’ both near and far, have helped me through some of the darkest times of my life. And not only that, the same friends have been there cheering me on when life is full of sunshine and things to celebrate. It takes a certain level of best friend to be there for both the ups and the downs that the rollercoaster of life brings, and THAT is what this week’s MenoShine WOW is all about.

I don’t usually pay much attention to global or international days of celebrating (as I’m writing this today in the US apparently, amongst other national holidays, it’s national bagelfest, coffee milkshake, and tree day?!) But this week, a day popped on the calendar that I felt called to celebrate. International Friendship Day, on July 30th. Instead of celebrating it just for a day, we’re going to celebrate our besties all week here in MenoShine!

Think about it. When was the last time that you wrote to your best friends and told them what it is that you love about them? We don’t have to wait until they’re in a crisis, or have something to celebrate, to let them know just how much they mean to us.

So, this week in MenoShine, instead of announcing one ‘woman of the week’, I’m handing the assignment over to you. Write to your bestie(s) and tell them that they are YOUR MenoShine WOW. Don’t just send a text. Take the time to sit and think about why they mean so much to you, and then write a letter, send a card, or pick up the phone and call them. I promise, it will give you the warmest feeling in both your heart and theirs.

I do recognize that for a myriad of reasons, friendships come and go. If you’re missing your best friend because she passed too soon, my heart goes out to you. If you’ve recently moved and are starting over, looking for friendships, or feeling lonely, then my hope is that you feel welcome here.

My dream is that MenoShine grows to become a place where you make lifelong friends. At the moment, this community is very small (ok, it’s tiny), but the heart and momentum behind it is massive. I have big dreams and plans for what I want MenoShine to be and a huge part of that is being a place where you feel seen and understood, and where lasting friendships are formed and celebrated.

I would absolutely LOVE to hear all about your MenoShine WOWs and celebrate them with you. I’ll leave you in a moment with a few of my favorite photos of The Posse. I’ll be sharing them on socials this week and celebrating International Friendship Day. I’ll also be posting pics of some other incredible women that I am honored to call best friends. I’d love for you to join me and share your favorite photos of you and your best friends. Tag them and me (@menoshine_with_me) and let’s use the hashtag #MenoShineWOW. At the end of the week we can celebrate how many amazing women we’ve tagged who have left imprints on our hearts. How does that sound to you? It makes me smile from ear to ear as I’m sitting here writing about it.

And speaking of smiling from ear to ear …as promised, here are just a few Posse classics! (Reminder, you can go and read about each of these gorgeous peeps in my previous MenoShine WOW posts.)

This was circa 1990..ish (my memory is a bit vague!) From left to right: Melly B, Flooz, Beccy Brownhat, me (Jammy), Janey Angel, and Katyla! We’ve been ‘The Posse’ for over 35 years!

These days, it’s not often that we’re all together, with me in the US and Katy in Spain (and before that, Seoul). The last two pictures are from 2023 when we were all last together as a group.

Here’s us enjoying a lovely dinner out in London.

And then there’s THIS one below which I absolutely ADORE. It captures perfectly the essence of who we are as a group. Janey has clearly just dropped one of her perfectly timed one-liners that’s sent Katy into hysterics, wetting herself with laughter, and Mel? She’s got that silent giggle going that’s about to erupt into a shriek! Suzi’s laughing at them all…but trying to keep us together for a photo, and Beccy and I have no clue what’s just been said!

Oh how I love and miss my gorgeous Posse. They are my MenoShine WOWs now and forever.

So, with that, my lovely friend, it’s over to you. Go and make someone’s week this week by telling them just how much they mean to you. And if you feel up to it, tell us about it here. Let’s start the MenoShine Movement where we love and support each other, and friendships are everything.

Stay tuned for next week. I have a MenoShine WOW story that will warm the cockles of your heart.

Sending sass and sparkles and a whole lot of love x