Just spent two weeks in my original home state of Illinois and was in total bliss during this trip.  So many blessings awaited me – from visiting a family relative who is very ill – to almost sinking in a boat on the Chain O Lakes.  But the reason I went back there was to hang out with my high school girlfriends who I still have heart ties to after all these years.  As I write this I'm listening to Free Bird by Leonard Skynard – one of the bands we danced to at our parties.  I am so nostalgic and it's one of the reasons I find so much joy in the company of old friends.  

Here are some of my girlfriends as we were getting ready to enjoy a lovely dinner on the lake in Williams Bay, WI:

girlfriends_2014I'm there on the top right along with my friends Joni, Paula, Cathy and Cindy.  We have so many laughs together because we are just ourselves – like when in high school.  No pre-tenses, no false hoods…we just catch up, share, drink, eat and laugh.  

Here's another picture of our silly selves as we glammed it up for a Hollywood style party:

girlfriends_glam_2014I'm there second from the right with my friends Lori, Cindy and Paula.  What a night we had!  

In addition to seeing these cool chicks, I also got to spend time with my neighborhood girlfriends. We are the Camelot girls from Mt. Prospect, Illinois.  Two of us go back to 5th grade, then 6th, then 7th and we all went to high school together.  This picture was taken before dinner at Biaggi's at Deer Park near Lake Zurich, IL.  

girlfriend bliss

I post this hoping that you will make it a priority to connect with the people who make you feel good – who you love to be around and who accept you for who you are.  Life is short and it's good to find bliss in the little things – parties with old friends and other activities that make you happy.  

Can you share a story that brings you bliss?  Please do it here!