The Women We Appreciate The Most; How to Celebrate Them

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”  – Zig Ziglar

August 1st, a day to remember why we should be grateful for all the women we love. Regardless of whether it’s a love interest, a friendship or a family member, this day was invented to recognize how beautiful and worthy female companions are to all of us. It is all about feeling gratitude for those that have been there for us through good or bad, and to those who keep pushing us to become a better version of ourselves.

It is evident that we are in a time in history where women are being recognized for their successes, discoveries and achievements; nevertheless, it’s also less taboo to talk about the letdowns and failures. In the end, we’re all humans and we want to treat each other with respect and appreciation. It may surprise readers to know that, although things have improved, a study has revealed that women tend to attack one another more than men do. In a soon to be published study, titled Why Women are Meaner to Each Other Than Men are to Women, University of Arizona professor Allison Gabriel describes the “Queen Bee Syndrome” as it applied to women. https://moneyish.com/ish/why-women-are-meaner-to-each-other-than-men-are-to-women/ The study results emphasize some women are meaner to other women than men are to women. This creates a phenomenon of powerful women being disliked because other perceive them to be in roles where they are traditionally thought of as supportive and nurturing.

That is why we use days like these, where it’s all about celebrating female friendships and relationships, to show appreciation for all the girlfriends we love and admire.

To do so, here are some ideas on how to make this “ordinary” day, a yearly special tradition.

  • Don’t assume that buying big and expensive gifts is the only way to go. Sometimes the smallest details have the biggest impact. Write an appreciation note, letter, postcard, or text to all the women you appreciate. Gestures like these make the day extra special.
  • Crafting something with your own hands shows a lot of appreciation and dedication. Explore your creative side, no matter what the final product looks like. Something made by you is more personalized than a gift from a store.
  • Consider shopping small boutiques and local stores around your city or town; look online for unusual and unique gifts. Find that special something that represents your relationship.
  • Host a gratitude get together. Some of the essentials could be: chocolate, a cheese platter and wine. Don’t forget to blast to some girl empowering songs like:

It’s fun to find little reasons to celebrate everyday. Using holidays like these to share gratitude may brighten your life and others, avoid taking them for granted. They may be the best memories you make!

 

Sharon Schweitzer and Sophie Echeverry co-wrote this post. Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a cross-cultural trainer, modern manners expert, and the founder of Access to Culture. She serves as a Chinese Ceremonial Dining Etiquette Specialist in the documentary series Confucius was a Foodie, on Nat Geo People. She is the resident etiquette expert on two popular lifestyle shows: ABC Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend and CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. She is regularly quoted by BBC Capital, Investor’s Business Daily, and Fortune. Her Amazon #1 Best Selling book in International Business,  Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, now in its third printing, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015. She’s a winner of the British Airways International Trade Award at the 2016 Greater Austin Business Awards.

Sophie Echeverry is a marketing manager and event coordinator at Access to Culture. Born and raised in Colombia, with a degree in International Business and Marketing from Hult International Business School in San Francisco. Feel free to connect with Sophie on LinkedIn.

Photo by Pixabay