Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I often post about my girlfriends and what a great time I have when I’m with them. This picture features most of the Platinum Charter Team. Two members were previously obligated therefore could not attend this event. These ladies are awesome! I’m blessed to have several sets of really really good girlfriends. I mean real women! Women that don’t tolerate pettiness and drama! Women, like the ones in the photos that I can dine, laugh and chat with for hours. One conversation leads to another, then another and before you know it, it’s past time to go. Just real girlfriends! This entire platform was developed on these premises…Mature Grown Aging Gracefully Beautiful Women that know how to live and enjoy the lives they’ve been blessed with. This is why we have…Platinum Highlights! And of course, to openly discuss the mind and body changes that we’re experiencing during this stage of life. Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let’s move on! LOL

Have you ever taken a Girls Trip? Not a couples trip, family vacation or a business trip with great co-workers but a real Girls Trip? Just you and one or more of your best girlfriends. If not, please call your girls and get one on the calendar immediately. These trips are not meant to take anything away from your family or negatively impact your relationship with your spouse or significant other. They are to provide you with some time away from your day to day life with some awesome women…your friends! They really are the best vacays ever and I think every woman needs to experience at least one Girls Trip. Once you’ve done it, you will do it again.

Studies have proven that Girls Trips are good for you. (I’m a believer!) They indicate that these trips can extend life expectancy and lower heart disease. These getaways can increase the feel good cuddle hormone, oxytocin. This hormone makes us friendlier, happier and more generous. And who doesn’t want those qualities? From my experience, we are more relaxed and less stressed when we return. Even if we ripped and ran the entire vacay, we feel better. We’re happy because we have spent days laughing and not being obligated to do anything for anybody but ourselves. All of these things are beneficial to your family upon return. I’m really struggling to explain just how great they are. So let me tell you how I’ve done it and some of the places I’ve gone. Some were planned ahead of time and some were sort of impromptu. But they were all FUN!

We eat good and good doesn’t mean expensive! We are always cautious about where we dine and the activities we do while vacationing. I would like to think we are cost effective but not cheap. We laugh hard, chat, dance, shop, relax, chat more, play, act silly, pray, cry, more chatting and a few more tears. Some of us have even worked during our trips. We wanted to go, therefore we took our work with us. And that’s okay! It never stopped the fun! We share secrets, tell stories, laugh and cry again. And that’s good! Often times, we realize that our lives have experienced similar dilemmas but we didn’t recognize this until…our Girls Trip. It’s about reconnecting, togetherness and letting our guards down enough to be honest and vulnerable around those we love and trust. There are so many stories behind a beautiful smile. These vacays allow us to tell those stories in a no judgement zone. We also abide by the rule of “What happens in wherever, stays in wherever!” We don’t come home and share our details over pillow talk or with other friends. Yes, we share funny stories and express how great the trip was but we respect the confidentiality of everyone in attendance.

It’s not about trying to go far away, it’s about getting away. We’ve packed in a vehicle and driven to places that were less than 5 hours from Atlanta. I’ve been to Gatlinburg, Nashville, Chattanooga, Hilton Head, Braselton, Savannah, Huntsville and anywhere else we chose. The conversation in the car is always hilarious and serious. At this age, we have to stop for bathroom breaks and of course, snacks! We’ve done all of this and we still have 2-4 more days to laugh and chat. What more could a girl ask for? We’ve even met other girlfriends at these destinations and the fun continues. We never run out of things to talk about because everyone is free to open up and release their deepest thoughts in a safe space. And just so you know…we always take God with us. We pray before we leave, while we’re there and when we’re heading back. It’s just who I am and who they are!

We have been to the beach in the dead of winter, wore our jackets and scarves and danced like no one was watching. Because nobody was there. We had the entire beach to ourselves. It was cold and windy but fun! We attended a Beyonce concert in Vegas – it was unseasonably cold that weekend but we had a blast! We also did a Western Mediterranean cruise for a birthday celebration. This was my first time in Europe and I’m certainly going back. Italy was experiencing record breaking hot temperatures…but we still had fun! We shopped until we dropped while buying that beautiful Italian Leather that everyone loves. We went to Gatlinburg, TN to see the snow capped mountains but mother nature had other plans that weekend. It was cold but very little snow had fallen. So we stayed inside the entire weekend, cooked, watched movies and had a mobile massage company come to the cabin and give us all 45 minute massages. We even got in the hot tub that was on the deck. Now, that probably wasn’t the best idea because it was freezing cold, but it was fun. LOL No girls trip has ever been perfect! But they were all perfect for us. There’s always “somebody” that can’t attend because that’s just life. She is missed, but the fun continues! There have been times that the “somebody” was me, but they carried on without me. Again…that’s life.

I read somewhere that girls trips increased after the debut of the movie “Girls Trip” (with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish). I had gone on several trips prior to the movie but it certainly inspired me to be more consistent. I have about three girls trips annually. Most are exactly as I described above, around the corner from the ATL. There are numerous times that a GNO or Staycation is necessary for one of the girls. We do those and they are outstanding too! So if you’re waiting for the perfect scenario, it may never happen. If you’re waiting for every girlfriend to clear her calendar for the perfect long weekend, that may be impossible. If you’re saving for the perfect international destination, take a mini trip that’s within reach soon. I say this because life is short! We must start living each day to it’s fullest. Enjoy every minute. Spend time with those we love. Reach out to those that cross our minds. Take care of our bodies. Remember, health is your first wealth. And finally plan that long awaited Girls Trip! Why? Because these trips are good for your soul and Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

My largest girls trip will be the 2020 Platinum WORLD Retreat Cruise. I’m so excited! Though husbands and some families are coming, the ship is large enough for us to get away from them. I’m still planning the “at sea” details but you can join us. It’s not too late!

Please share some of your girls trip photos with us. Who knows, it may be featured on one of our social media posts. Also, share the location of your next Girls Trip. Let’s see where everyone is going. Please post these on our Facebook page – Platinum Highlights. Please include all girlfriend names and where you were. You will be notified if your photo is selected to be featured.