I sit at the boy's table. It's not like I have anything against my girlfriends. I mean I do have three or four girl best friends. However, given the choice between listening to an hour of "should I text him back?" or "we need to discuss the severity of her outfit yesterday," versus beer, sports and ridiculously raunchy stories which normally I wouldn't even believe happened, I honestly prefer a seat at the boy's table.
I'm not quite sure where it all stemmed from. It's not like my mother raised me as a tomboy; my nails are always french manicured and pedicured, I have a major shopping problem, and I've had my fair share of bawling my eyes out with Ben & Jerry's Phish Food in my lap over some stupid boy. With that in mind, my nails generally are chipped by Saturday because I opened way too many beers for them during the "ride the bus" card game, my guy friends help me pick out 75% of my going out outfits, and as for every time the waterworks come on in the bars, I have at least three guys either threatening to "find him," whoever he is, or making sure I leave immediately to get rid of the tears and exchange them for a 1 a.m. chicken gyro or two pieces of pizza.
I love being a guy's girl. I used to be extremely sensitive as a kid. I had thin skin, and was always told, "Girl, you have got to toughen up." As a junior in college, having so many strong, male perspectives in my life has strengthened me for the real world in ways that I could never repay them for. So here's to the most important things being a guy's girl has taught me, and to never wanting it to be any other way.
1. You don't need to love everyone you meet, just as much as not everyone you meet needs to love you.
On a larger scale, not every formal date needs to be your future husband. On a much smaller one, it's okay to keep your circle small with the essential people who love and care about you.
2. Mind your own business.
While I have experienced my fair share of guys who screen shot messages to each other the same way us girls do, life is a much smoother sail when loose lips aren't sinking ships.
3. Drama really isn't ever the answer.
There's a way to finesse through life and not make a scene about every little issue. Some things just need to roll off of your shoulder.
4. Treat men like a game of baseball.
1 strike, people make mistakes. 2 strikes, they're learning. 3 strikes, it's on you, and they need to be out.
5. The true meaning of being patient.
To the best friend who sat with me in 7th grade home ec class while all of the other girl/guy pairs made apple pies, thank you for having the patience to teach me every position on a football field using salt and pepper shakers as players on top of the oven... and for reminding me seven years later in college.
6. Men can be just as emotional as women...
but it usually requires a genuine relationship of mutual trust to actually bring that side out.
7. Respect yourself.
I have never seen my guy friends look at themselves and completely tear themselves down inch by inch, nor have I ever seen them disrespect each other with passive digs in ways girls can do to each other. Value yourself, be yourself and all else will fall into place.
Cheers to you boys, for treating girls like me like one of you, all the while understanding the times when nothing makes sense, and reminding us that in the end, everything will.
