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Deborah Olson received the award for Self-Help and Instructional / Reference in Literature.
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Deborah and Carmen talk with Sara Jamshdi about the healing power of female connections, something we need during the pandemic and depressing-news era.
Producer Sara Jamshidi is an Iranian-American journalist and former radio producer for Wisconsin Public Radio. Peacemindedly explores peace, kindness and compassion featuring peace activists, peace makers and peace-game-changers. At a time when the news is dominated by updates about the novel Coronavirus and other depressing news in the United States and around the world, Jamshidi wants to share stories that inspire hope and connection.
Listen NowOlson, a registered nurse and professional counselor, empathetically explores how female friendships can positively influence one’s life in her engaging debut. She defines friendship as “a close association between two people marked by feelings of care, respect, admiration, concern, love, or like.” To Olson, finding someone with similar interests and expectations for a potential friendship is crucial for a positive experience. She provides discussion questions to encourage readers to dig into their own psyches and comforting examples from her own life to help readers make sense of what they value and seek out in friendships. She then explores how strong friendships promote health, happiness, and longevity (“being connected to others is key when we face illness because it helps us manage our stress responses”) and provides tips on making new friends by getting out of one’s comfort zone, such as by joining a club or volunteering. Savvy and thoughtful, Olson’s thorough work offers a blueprint for readers concerned with finding and maintaining friendships.
Publishers Weekly
Reviewed by Christina Hamlett for Readers’ Favorite
Author/therapist Deborah Olson’s new book, The Healing Power of Girlfriends, addresses a reality that females have probably known since the beginning of time; specifically, gal pals rule!
From one chapter to the next, she emphasizes the connectivity,communication, and compassion that not only differentiate female friendships from those pursued by men but also illustrates how these friendships are paramount to our mental health, physical well-being, and emotional outlook. Each section concludes with a list of discussion questions to reinforce the chapter content and also serve as invaluable relationship guidelines which can be used at any stage of our journey through life and in any one-on-one dynamic we may encounter.
Her inclusion of personal stories combined with expert research makes for an empowering read that is as relevant to the hearts of teenagers as it is to senior citizens.
There are many takeaways to Deborah Olson’s The Healing Power of Girlfriends but the one which resonates the most deeply with me is her concentric circles diagram which effectively allows readers to not only figure out how close or casual a friendship is but also to identify whether our expectations of any given friendship are realistic. Throughout high school, for instance (and even into adulthood), I was reminded of all the times I had labeled someone as my best friend and yet subsequently came to realize that such a designation wasn’t reciprocated. The female friendships we embrace out of choice vs. obligation from marriage or family are a test of our trust and vulnerability.
How freely we open our respective chests of secrets to someone new, Olson explains, derives from a frame of reference involving anyone who came before. Likewise, inherent expectations of trust, support, and empathy are influenced by whether the circumstances and mindsets we share can create a permanent foundation or are transitory in nature.
Another salient and well-grounded point in this book is to make our female friendships a priority rather than allowing them to get sabotaged by husbands, boyfriends, children, work schedules, etc. Through examples, she shows how women who have prioritized their friendships are more likely to make those relationships happily last over the course of time, physical distance, and emotional transitions. On a final note, I enjoyed how Olson offers tips for avoiding toxic friendships (i.e., drama queens, clingers, and flakes) as well as mourning the loss of an attachment you had assumed would last forever. At the end of the day, feeling angry, bitter, or blaming another is not as productive as accepting that the friendship had run its natural course and, in the process, imparted lessons that might not otherwise have been learned.
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Welcome, readers, to the world of writing with another author interview! We love doing these. Today we are featuring Deborah Olson, who was introduced to us via Sue Canfield (of Social Media Book Marketing Services: Ausoma.com). Deborah is a women’s emotional health specialist who offers hands-on solutions to positively enhance life in meaningful and purposeful ways. She is here today to share her experiences in writing and publishing her book: The Healing Power of Girlfriends: How to Create Your Best Life Through Female Connection.
Read InterviewINTENTIONAL LIVING, PODCAST, REAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH OLSON
In this conversation, we cover how to create connections, rediscover things we enjoy in a season of less external things to do, and being kind and good to ourselves.
Listen NowClose Relationships Can Buffer the Negative Effects of Stress in a Crisis
How apropos that April is Stress Awareness Month while everyone on the planet is dealing with some sort of stress during this pandemic. “Now, more than ever, we need to embrace and nurture a coming together of the global community,” states Dr. Marlene Freeman, associate director of the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health.
Read ArticleAs an extension of the Nonfiction Authors Association, the NonFiction Book Awards are committed to honoring excellence in nonfiction books and welcome submissions by self-published and traditionally published authors alike.
Read ArticleIn honor of Women’s History Month, Nextdoor is celebrating women around the country who have played a critical role in building stronger communities. Although women are worthy of recognition all year round, March is a time to unite around women everywhere and recognize their unique contributions to American history and culture.
The following women went above and beyond to empower their neighbors and ensure everyone in their local community had a neighborhood to rely on.
Read ArticleMaking new friendships as a baby boomer can be challenging – these tips and practical tools help overcome barriers to friendships and help you find new friends.
Read ArticleHere we have an extra long list of books that could be of big value for women especially. They’re perfect gifts for someone you know, or a great way to sit back, relax and relate, with a wide range of stories, with at least some that will catch your eye.
Read ListHaving just moved to a new state and new neighborhood, I found Deborah A. Olson’s, “The Healing Power of Girlfriends: How to Create Your Best Life Through Female Connection,” to be just what I needed. After living in our old state for thirty-five years, I left some very close and cherished friends behind. While I have met some great ladies here, I quickly learned who can be trusted, non-judgmental and have the same interests I have.
Read ArticleThe Most Invaluable Self-Help Books for Women Part 2
Read ArticleHouston author publishes book on friendships. By Rebecca Hazen, Staff writer
Read ArticleVisiting your parents but don’t want to stay with them? Here’s how to let them down easy.
Tips for managing your stress during the coronavirus pandemic.
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