Briana Donaldson: 00:00

We weren't meant to do life alone. But in a society that glorifies independence, it's very easy to get caught in the trap of loneliness. We believe that a lot of women feel like they're isolated and like they're having to go through their struggles in life alone. Mhmm. And we really wanna shift that narrative.

Briana Donaldson: 00:20

And we really want to promote women doing life together, not separate. So let's get right into today's episode of community, building deep friendship, and a women's circle together. So, obviously, because we believe in community so much, that's why we're addressing it in this episode. We we've seen such a need for it in our own lives and in society

Danielle Schleese: 00:54

Yes.

Briana Donaldson: 00:55

So much so that you've gone ahead and created this incredible community for yourself with your family. So Yep. I mean, I admire it daily. I wish I was a part of it.

Danielle Schleese: 01:05

You will be a part of it. You are a part of it. Mhmm. I'm here living with you right now. True.

Danielle Schleese: 01:09

Yeah. No. I agree. It's it's something that I didn't know I really needed until I was into it, but it was also was at a crossroad in my life where I had to make a choice of the next design phase, I would say. Like, Gabe and I were both at the point where we were gonna be buying a house.

Danielle Schleese: 01:24

And even though I lived ten minutes from my sister at the time, you still had to schedule to see each other and neither of us had kids. And we would see each other maybe once a week, once every other week. And once Gabe and I decided to buy a house, we're like, listen. We're this busy with two dogs already. We can only imagine what it's like with with kids, and it takes this much effort for us just to collectively get together.

Danielle Schleese: 01:46

So it's either him and I go live somewhere far off on our own, and we'll still get together for, like, major holidays. Or here's a crazy idea. We all buy a big property and move on it together. And, surprisingly, every single person in my family was down. Well, mind you, it just like my parents and my sister because the rest of my family's all in Germany.

Danielle Schleese: 02:06

So it really was just the few core. And I was saying to Sam, I'm like, eventually, our parents are going to need us Right. Down the road. Right. So it's either we figure it out in twenty, thirty years, or we just kind of set ourselves up in a situation that we know create some create your own version of Right?

Danielle Schleese: 02:26

And also, Sam and I didn't really have a lot of family growing up here. Like, it was just the core of four of us. Yeah. And that's something that I wanted to give to my future children at the time was to have their aunts, their uncles, their cousins, their grandparents around, which is something I didn't really get to Right. Know.

Danielle Schleese: 02:44

And I think that once my parents were on board and my sister and Jordan were on board, they were always, like, unsure because they

Briana Donaldson: 02:52

were a

Danielle Schleese: 02:52

bit more independent. We just the universe, it was so interesting, like, presented the most perfect space for us to to build this on. And we moved in, I think, June. And then by July, somehow both of us got pregnant and right away Okay.

Briana Donaldson: 03:07

But moved in where? You gotta give more detail.

Danielle Schleese: 03:09

Like, we moved into the Well, the property. Big property that was 88 acres, and then our neighbors ended up selling their property, which completed it to be a 100 acres. And then there was three dwellings. So Sam, myself, my parents, we each got a dwelling and some side barns and buildings as well. Like, I mean, it was such a fluke how this property came to be.

Danielle Schleese: 03:28

But we probably spent, like, seven to eight months searching for this property. And I think that because we had dictated such a clear vision of exactly what we wanted and where we wanted to go and how we wanted to build our life Mhmm. That's when options really started opening up to us, and I was so adamant. I feel like truly one of my powers in this life is to manifest things. Yeah.

Danielle Schleese: 03:49

And ever since we've been living there, it's been, like, three, four years now. And our kit so, yeah, about three year no.

Briana Donaldson: 03:57

Four years. Because while he

Danielle Schleese: 03:58

was three

Briana Donaldson: 03:58

three, and you were got pregnant with him while you were living there.

Danielle Schleese: 04:01

And I had no idea what I was in for, becoming a mother. I mean, you you can only anticipate so much until you go through it yourself. Right? And we'll get into a little bit more today about, like, communities of being surrounded by people in a community and family situation and motherhood as well. But having that support system with my sister there and Gabe's an identical twin and his twin moved down the street and his fiancee is one of my best friends too.

Danielle Schleese: 04:32

So we we kind of had this, like, sisterhood going on where my sister became close with my sister-in-law and then my sisters in laws moved in down the road. So it's just it became this, like, bustling community where my sister's mother-in-law is somehow, like, kind of, like, my mother-in-law too and babysits my my child, and then we group them together, and then we alternate days. So, like, that has been such a massive help in so many respects because I so often think to myself, I'm like, how do people do this alone? And I know I'm incredibly lucky Yeah. That this is the situation for us, that and this is kind of how it played out.

Danielle Schleese: 05:09

But I am a really good saleswoman, and I do believe I sold that vision, but it's it's working out in everyone's favor. I'm slowly working on getting you there too. Yeah. Because one of our best friends also bought a property down the street

Briana Donaldson: 05:21

there as well. So,

Danielle Schleese: 05:22

I mean, I'm like, at the end the day, why not? Like, what is this life for? It's to create experiences, be around the people that you love. And if you could do all those things well, obviously, you have to maintain some sort of living and lifestyle if you can kind of wipe out all those things.

Briana Donaldson: 05:39

And within a community, it's Why not? Very beneficial.

Danielle Schleese: 05:41

Why not? For sure. So, yeah, it's it's been an amazing journey and one that obviously Sam and I are sharing on social media on our own, like, our sister journey page of, like, why we did what we did because we know it's actually quite a a unique story and then not to to mention the fact that we both got pregnant at the exact same time twice. Yeah. You know, one of our kids are two weeks apart, then the other set of kids are two days apart.

Danielle Schleese: 06:05

So crazy. It's wild. So it's been life changing, and I I can't imagine my life otherwise. And I know that this is this type of lifestyle or, like, community or support system, maybe not identical to what I have, but is things that are a little bit abnormal in society today. Right.

Danielle Schleese: 06:23

And a lot of people crave and have questions about and search for it within their own families or their own girlfriends or

Briana Donaldson: 06:29

their own communities. Like, you know how

Danielle Schleese: 06:30

that I always send you meme where it's like, oh, once our husbands die, we'd, buy go to my house and live together. Together and Yeah. Just reunite. I'm just like, well, why can't we do that now? Yeah.

Danielle Schleese: 06:39

And enjoy it now and then raise our kids together.

Briana Donaldson: 06:41

Yeah. Well, we kind of are right now.

Danielle Schleese: 06:42

Well, kind of. Yeah.

Briana Donaldson: 06:43

We have the ability to be together. And Yeah. I think that, like, such such a big takeaway from it is that what you can gain from living within a community like that and what you can gain from being a part of a community or creating the community yourself. And I think that that's healing together, growing together, and thriving together. Because when you have a support system around you, all three of those things, I think, become a lot easier.

Briana Donaldson: 07:13

Yep. You have people to lean on through all of those phases. And so I think that creating community is so much more than just like, oh, like, have neighbors and we're friends and our kids hang out. Yeah. But it's literally like you're going through stages of life to be supportive for each other through the healing.

Danielle Schleese: 07:30

Well, you didn't grow up that community, who would you turn to? Like,

Briana Donaldson: 07:34

I feel Tell me about that.

Danielle Schleese: 07:35

Maybe I'm a little bit of a conspiracy theorist as well, but I also feel like when people are isolated and stripped from their power, which is like you become more powerful with the support system, you become dependent

Briana Donaldson: 07:46

Yeah. On a system that can control you and isolate you and invoke fear into you. And make you completely reliant on them for fulfilling the needs that we're desperate for in this society of separation and isolation.

Danielle Schleese: 07:59

Yeah. And I mean, like, even though we have connection now more than ever Mhmm. I mean, like, you would only know who you knew through friendships, people, family, you know, and then you'd have, like, a couple phone numbers on hand who lived within your vicinity. But now you're in this world of social media that you're exposed to anybody in the world almost essentially.

Briana Donaldson: 08:19

But it's it's it's ironic because it's like you can access and be connected to anyone at any point at any time, and yet we're so much more disconnected now probably than we ever have been from one another and from nature and from what is natural. Yeah. And I think it's that hustle bustle culture that has really, you know, created this isolation. Just like we've touched on in previous episodes, like the productivity is all that matters. That's where your value is.

Briana Donaldson: 08:47

So the hustle bustle culture is completely pinning us down to this lifestyle that is isolating and so lacking in community.

Danielle Schleese: 08:56

I also feel like that can encourage more of, like, a trust and vulnerability issue in women. And it doesn't it doesn't have to always be, like, within friendships or within, like, social media and people you don't know because, obviously, there's, like, a comparison of seeing ideal lifestyles because I'm like, a lot of the comments we get too is just like,

Briana Donaldson: 09:14

I wish I had that.

Danielle Schleese: 09:16

Right. And it's not really to invoke envy or jealousy. It's more so to spark inspiration Right. That or, like, show that this is something that is possible. Right.

Danielle Schleese: 09:26

For sure. And then some people are like, oh, I could never live with my parents or I can never live with my sister. My sister and I never even talk. Right. Which that is the reality for a lot of people, and I feel like because also there is, like, a that fear of being vulnerable or, like, lack of trust or loss of trust that you may have had with some sort of issue or fallout

Briana Donaldson: 09:45

with someone to be family, though. It doesn't have to

Danielle Schleese: 09:48

be family.

Briana Donaldson: 09:48

No. You're you're very lucky. Yours just so happens to be family, but it doesn't have to be family. You can freeze that with it.

Danielle Schleese: 09:54

No. Yeah. Like, all relationships, it requires work and communication, and there are disagreements. Like, we are all not as, like Of course. But, you know, online, obviously, see highlights.

Danielle Schleese: 10:05

We're not gonna post when we all are in arguments arguments. And And be like, this girl Kinda wish we would, though. I mean, maybe we should to show how we resolve it. Yeah. And, again, to just offer, like, solutions to to show how we work through it.

Danielle Schleese: 10:17

Because one of the biggest questions we get is, like, how did you guys get so close as sisters? Right. But to be honest, like, there was a time where you and I remember when we were like our own sisters were like, stop calling each other sisters because you're not sisters. We're sisters. But it was like at that time, we were living together.

Danielle Schleese: 10:34

We were in the same vicinity together. We did

Briana Donaldson: 10:36

everything together.

Danielle Schleese: 10:37

We finished each other's sandwiches. And then now that my sister is, like, literally my neighbor and living with me and we're raising kids together too, that's when we started to really form this bond of closeness Yeah. And this connection relationship. And, obviously, we're very different people, but we're also having a lot of the same values. And Yeah.

Briana Donaldson: 10:57

We both want lucky.

Danielle Schleese: 10:59

You're very lucky. Lucky, but we both want this relationship to work. Right.

Briana Donaldson: 11:02

You have to put in the effort just like any relationship. If you want it to work and you want it to be healthy and you want it to flourish and grow, you gotta put the work in. Yeah. Gotta communicate. Gotta put the work in.

Danielle Schleese: 11:11

Yeah. And that

Briana Donaldson: 11:12

goes But I think it just, like, go like, circles back to we are wired to crave connection. It is in our innate human nature to to crave human connection with others. And I think that oftentimes, nowadays, we seek that through the Internet and we seek that through social media and things like that, but that's not true connection. Like, truly connecting with people on a on a deeper level, I think, is something that, you know, is really what we're trying to invoke and what creating community would provide more of.

Danielle Schleese: 11:52

Well, like, for instance, millennials and Gen Zs, I would say. Like, I feel like it might be because this is the first millennials are the last generation to really know what it's like to be on and off social media. Right. Life without it, but Gen Z, not so much. Right.

Danielle Schleese: 12:09

So it's I don't really even think I know a Gen Z, to be honest. But I'm just so curious, like

Briana Donaldson: 12:15

My brother? Is my brother?

Danielle Schleese: 12:16

Is he? No. No. He's, like, on the cusp. Is he?

Danielle Schleese: 12:19

Also, I'm talking about female relationships Okay. Or friendships or community even, like, what's what's holding you back as a woman from kind of creating that community or that connection, that, like, really deep authentic connection rather than just like

Briana Donaldson: 12:32

Like, because we're so pitted against each other. We're just, like, forced into competition. Yeah. Like, oh, be better than her. Look better than her.

Briana Donaldson: 12:39

Act better than her. Dress better than her. Have better nails, make up teeth.

Danielle Schleese: 12:42

But what were you just saying before we were talking before we started recording? You were like, you can make friends fast, but what's the difference between having, like, a deep bond where you can kinda form those core support systems? Like, it's because you were living in a country by yourself, so you're making friends. But from a female perspective, they are like

Briana Donaldson: 13:00

Well, I moved around so much. Like, obviously, my husband was a professional baseball player, and we were with, I don't know, seven, eight different teams during his career and our relationship in baseball. And every time we moved to a new city and we were with a new team, it's kinda like a pro and a con. You are in a new city. You have no friends, no family, no support system.

Briana Donaldson: 13:28

Your husband is away all the time. You're with your kids. You're by yourself. But the one thing that you have is the other wives because they're in it with you. Like, they're the only ones that understand what you're going through.

Briana Donaldson: 13:39

They're going through it too. But you're just, like, thrusted into this new group of women, and you are like, oh, like, accept me, please. You know? Like Be friends with me. Be friends with me, please.

Briana Donaldson: 13:51

And I am someone who obviously is very chatty and very bubbly and very outgoing. And I'm always like, let's hang out. Let's make plans. Let's do this. Let's and I do feel like there were moments where I got the vibe.

Briana Donaldson: 14:06

No one ever told me this, but I got the vibe at times that people would think that I was not authentic. Like, I think sometimes women would, like, question my intentions and like, oh, yeah. Why does she, like, wanna hang out with me all the time? Like, why does she, like why is she always trying to make plans with me? Like, what are her you know, are there ulterior motives?

Briana Donaldson: 14:27

And I could tell sometimes that that was, like, the vibe, so I would back off. But, really, I was just desperate for friends. Like, I was desperate for connection. I was desperate for community, and I didn't have anyone else anywhere else to turn. Mhmm.

Briana Donaldson: 14:41

Like, because I we were at the games seven days a week together, like, together, talking together, going through the same life experiences together, having kids around the same age. Like, it was all the same. So I was just like, let's hang out all the time, please. Because I was just in such deep need of it. And yet, of course, I made so many wonderful friends along the way who I'm still really close with.

Briana Donaldson: 15:05

But it it really opened my eyes to realizing, like like, am I too much, or are women afraid of connection? Are women, you know, like a little bit standoffish when they have someone that's so I don't know what the right word is. So excited about trying to build a friendship with them. Mhmm. It's like I think so often the first Yeah.

Briana Donaldson: 15:36

Thought is, like, to question

Danielle Schleese: 15:39

Or in different life. Well, that's too, like, in different life phases, like going into motherhood or even just motherhood and loneliness, even when you're, like, having a career shift or a life path change or a giant move, like, a lot of the things you experienced at once Yes. Like, I feel like that can also be very isolating for women.

Briana Donaldson: 15:57

And And COVID and loss and grief. Yeah. Like, it's

Danielle Schleese: 16:02

so much stuff. But I feel like, you know, women and humans, we are wired connection, but we're just kind of surrounded by a life that doesn't really Support it. Support it. But it, like, looks like it does, but it doesn't. Right.

Danielle Schleese: 16:16

Because it's Right. Not now more than ever, people are more lonely. They're more having a lot more mental health issues and challenges. And

Briana Donaldson: 16:24

And I believe that we heal through connection. For We really do the heart and soul and mind can heal through connection. And I know for a fact, because this podcast alone is doing it, but, like, what you can achieve when you have connection. Like, what you can truly achieve when you are surrounded by a support system. I actually saw a video.

Briana Donaldson: 16:49

I think I sent it to our goddess girl group where it was

Danielle Schleese: 16:52

just like, hey. I don't know if I have to, like, put science studies behind this now, but it wasn't me. It was a video. I'm just reiterating what I saw. But it was saying this new science studies have shown that women need other women in their lives and deep connection, and it scientifically proves that they're actually healthier and happier Right.

Danielle Schleese: 17:11

When they are around those other women. Like, women need women. Just like men need men. Like, you need your men time. You need your women time.

Briana Donaldson: 17:18

You go you go look back at history and look at how women's circles were in ancient times. Yes. I mean, you look back at ancient communities and, like, when the woman the women would sync up on their on their menstrual cycle. And when they would bleed, they would all go into the same tent and bleed together and share that experience together. Maybe rare communities even out today that we are very,

Danielle Schleese: 17:41

very rare.

Briana Donaldson: 17:42

Absolutely. It's of course. And, you know, like same thing when a woman would have a baby, all the other women in the The elders. Would move into her tent to help support her through those early stages of childhood and childbirth and all that. And the men would go out and hunt.

Briana Donaldson: 17:56

And it's like it is innate in our in our DNA and in our nature to desire this connection with other women and creating community, especially during the times that we need it so desperately. And and just like you said, same thing for men. Like men also need that. That's a whole other topic because I think that as we know, you know, in our culture and in our society, men are very fearful of letting their walls down. Oftentimes, not not all men, but generally more than women they are being vulnerable, allowing other people in.

Briana Donaldson: 18:29

But men also need that with each other. You know? Yep. So I I think that all around, we can grow from connection and community. We can flourish.

Briana Donaldson: 18:41

We can heal parts of ourselves and just live optimally if we really can create that. Well, think about even, like, motherhood.

Danielle Schleese: 18:47

Right? Because it made me think about that when you're talking about, like, oh, when women used to go in for childbirth because I recently had a baby Mhmm. Eight months ago. And I was really preparing for a home natural birth. Like, I was so determined.

Danielle Schleese: 19:01

I'm like, this is what I want. And, like, the amount of literature I would read, the books, and just kind of like the ancient wisdom that came around childbirth and all those things like Motherhood. I cannot remember. I think it's called re reclaiming childbirth. It's like a red book.

Danielle Schleese: 19:19

Probably have to link it below in the show notes, but I recommend it to any I'm gonna give it to anyone else, my girlfriends who have yet to have a baby or anybody who's gonna have a baby. I recommend this book because it's just it gives a in-depth critical history about women all throughout history of time with resources Mhmm. And childbirth and the connection. There is, like, a section in the book that I remember reading about how it, like, tells a story that kinda sums up all the knowledge about a woman get about to give birth and, like, each chapter goes to, like, the next stage of, like, the transition and actually giving birth and how her mother and her sister are with her in the tent preparing her for the next phase. And then as soon as the baby's born, they show her what to do and think about, like, you used to be surrounded by grandmothers, wet nurses, aunts, women who you would watch breastfeed.

Danielle Schleese: 20:07

I don't think I other than my sister, like, adopted sister who was, like, 17 older than me and for a very, very brief time because she was back and forth between Germany

Briana Donaldson: 20:17

Mhmm.

Danielle Schleese: 20:17

At this time. Other than that, I don't recall seeing, talking about, learning about breastfeeding Interesting. At all. And, like and my my mom didn't breastfeed us, so it's like she didn't have the support to get through that in the hospital. And that's like when the Lecce League was really Yeah.

Danielle Schleese: 20:36

Like, you should breastfeed, but we're not gonna teach you how. And if you don't, you'll feel shame for it. And that's like the formula age.

Briana Donaldson: 20:41

It was the formula age. Yeah.

Danielle Schleese: 20:43

So it was really pushed and encouraged to do formula. And when you and I did not know, and it's so different for every woman, but for me, the breastfeeding journey at beginning was so hard. So hard. And if I did not have a community like La Leche League or my midwives at the time or my sister because she was going through the the same thing with me. Like, we both wanted to breast feed so bad and it was like and you too.

Danielle Schleese: 21:06

I remember calling you, even though you were like living in a different country, you were still like my number one sport because you were one of my only you were my only friend who had had a baby. And breastfed. And breastfed at the time. So I'm like, I I was calling you for everything. My nipples are so sore, they're cracked, they're bleeding.

Danielle Schleese: 21:21

I can't do it. I can't do it. And I and it was just like, it required so much persistence and education and support Right. That I found in, like, a breastfeeding community that I would have never found before. But it was almost difficult to do that because it's wasn't something that was, like, readily available or talked about.

Danielle Schleese: 21:38

Like, you really had to hunt and find

Briana Donaldson: 21:40

The right people to help support that journey. People. And

Danielle Schleese: 21:43

it's so It could be feeling so because when you can't feed your baby Oh. It is like the most stressful. You're already postpartum going through all of the hormone Yeah. Drops, and it's just something you want so bad.

Briana Donaldson: 21:57

Yeah. I I had a bit of an easier time with Aubrey even though with my first, it was still really hard to learn. But with Lily, I had such Aw. Such a hard breastfeeding journey with her. So so many specialists, so many oh my god.

Briana Donaldson: 22:12

So much. But I agree with you.

Danielle Schleese: 22:14

But that's when mothers come together.

Briana Donaldson: 22:16

Had you, yeah, had you not had that community, what would that have looked like for you? It might have been totally different. Right?

Danielle Schleese: 22:20

I can see why people don't breastfeed sometimes. Like, I I see that. Oh, absolutely.

Briana Donaldson: 22:28

It's so hard. It's so hard. Mhmm. It is so hard. But a fed baby is the best baby.

Danielle Schleese: 22:33

That's right. Totally. Yeah. I'm just saying from my own Yeah. Of course.

Danielle Schleese: 22:37

Want. Yeah. That's what I had wanted. I hear you. Me too.

Danielle Schleese: 22:41

Even just a baby in general, like, there has there I know there's a lot of accounts and things coming up that offer, like, guides and ebooks. Remember you said you want to write a book one time? It was just like the everything you need to know about being pregnant and having a baby. Like Well, because the best bottles. This is the best pump.

Danielle Schleese: 22:55

This is the best that

Briana Donaldson: 22:56

I it all. But also and the reason that I came to that, which I still I still wanna do that one day. And I I wanna work with specialists to create essentially an index manual. Because you know how people are always like, oh, you get sent home with a kid, but there's no manual, but there should be. Like, there should

Danielle Schleese: 23:16

So crazy.

Briana Donaldson: 23:17

Like, how crazy is it that you get sent home from the hospital? Anyways, that's a whole other topic. That's a whole other topic. But there should be a manual. Every episode, we're like, that's a whole other topic.

Danielle Schleese: 23:26

That's whole

Briana Donaldson: 23:26

other episode. Okay. But let's let's get into some practical points.

Danielle Schleese: 23:30

Right.

Briana Donaldson: 23:30

Right. Let's get into some practical points of how we can how women can create more community for themselves.

Danielle Schleese: 23:37

Mhmm.

Briana Donaldson: 23:38

I think that there's a few very simple things that you can start with in order to do that. One is be very extremely decisive when you choose who you surround yourself with. Think that if you want a genuine community that's gonna be there to support you through the ups and downs, the people are going to matter. So it's quantity over or sorry. That's not correct.

Briana Donaldson: 24:07

It's quality. It's quality over quantity. Be very specific about who you're choosing to surround yourself with and who you want to be a part of that community. And then take charge. Like, speak up.

Briana Donaldson: 24:19

Like, if no one is creating the community and you feel like, no, it doesn't really exist where I am, then create it. Create it. Go to your girlfriends that you feel deeply strong with. Go to people that you feel like you could connect deeply with. Be like, hey.

Briana Donaldson: 24:32

I wanna start, like, once a week or once a month, whatever it is. Let's start meeting in person, on Zoom, whatever it is, and let's start creating our own community. I'm thinking of some one in particular, but, like, I she's a very outgoing person, and she's, like,

Danielle Schleese: 24:46

a natural magnet, and she's a yes girl too. So she has this natural gravity that pulls people into, like, want to talk to her and be friends with her, but it also is easy to kind of, like, wear yourself out thin because you're expanding yourselves to so many people to Too many. To offer Right. That community. So along with what you just said, be careful who you surround yourself with.

Danielle Schleese: 25:10

I feel like kind of what we mentioned in previous episodes though too, were the the strength of boundaries within that to protect your own space too.

Briana Donaldson: 25:19

Right.

Danielle Schleese: 25:20

Because the you you can only go so far Yeah. With certain people. Absolutely. So I feel like, you know, be very clear in your boundaries of like you just said, like, the type of people that you Definitely. Want to call into your life and need for yourself.

Danielle Schleese: 25:33

And because people might need

Briana Donaldson: 25:34

because people are attracted to

Danielle Schleese: 25:36

you. They might yeah. They might see you and they're like, I wanna be a part of your life. I need you. I feel better when I'm with you.

Danielle Schleese: 25:41

I'm gonna I'm gonna latch on latch on you and dump all my problems because I feel safe with you. Right. But think about what that does to yourself if you constantly are the bearer of that Yeah. Rather than is that person supporting me in the way that I need As well. As well.

Danielle Schleese: 25:56

Right. Boundaries is huge.

Briana Donaldson: 25:58

Boundaries is huge. And I think that another big piece of it is that you have to be willing to be vulnerable. Yeah.

Danielle Schleese: 26:05

You have to

Briana Donaldson: 26:05

be willing to be vulnerable because those deep connections in community that does offer those opportunities for growth is is a space where you can be vulnerable and embrace the outcome of what that looks like.

Danielle Schleese: 26:22

Yeah. It's more than just friendship. Yeah. It's empowering. It's vulnerability.

Danielle Schleese: 26:27

It's what's that word? Rep reposity? Repercity? Like, to reciprocate? That's the word.

Danielle Schleese: 26:36

Yeah. Yes. It's beyond it's just it's more than friendship. It's it's all of those things, vulnerability, empowerment, reciprocity. Yeah.

Briana Donaldson: 26:44

I mean, I think that, you know, not only did you create that for yourself with your family on your family compounds like you were explaining, but I do feel like the goddess group and our monthly calls is a space that we have created within our friend group for that community as well. It really does allow for that space to feel safe enough to be vulnerable, to let those things out and not be judged for it and have your friends and this community that we've created be there to fully support you through those really tough moments. And also, like, I think sometimes hearing other people at their most vulnerable moments and talk about their problems and the difficult times or amazing times that they're going through allows you to feel more comfortable to also express those things. So it's such a give and take relationship, I feel like, with all of

Danielle Schleese: 27:40

us within that community that we have also built together. Agreed. And I feel like a great takeaway for today's episode is to start building your community today, and that could be a community could be you and a friend, like or you and a family member or whoever it is that you feel safe with and feel that space with, just reach out to them and let them know how you need them and create that in-depth connection because you'll find that space within each other once you allow each other to feel vulnerable. And once you're vulnerable with that person, it'll open up the space that they can feel vulnerable back with you. Exactly.

Danielle Schleese: 28:18

And it can be something small. It could be a phone call. It could be

Briana Donaldson: 28:23

Mhmm.

Danielle Schleese: 28:24

A visit, but we would love for you guys to come and DM DM us on Instagram or at the Honey Toast Podcast and just let us know what's, like, a way that you really celebrate your friendships or how you'd like to empower your own community and become a part of our own community too because we would love to hear from

Briana Donaldson: 28:40

you and we'd love to connect and meet you guys. And remember that life is not about what we achieve and accomplish alone, but who we grow with alongside us. So we hope that you enjoyed today's episode, and we can't wait to

Danielle Schleese: 28:55

hear from you. Yeah. We're so excited to take you guys onto our next episodes because we're gonna be talking about long distance friendships, which is exactly what Brie and I have been dealing with for, like, eight years now. So we're very excited to talk about that one. So make sure you join us next week on that.

Danielle Schleese: 29:10

Alright. Yeah. Bunnies.