Hi {Contact_First_Name},
Recently I've been thinking a lot about CONNECTION (and not just because it's the name of our newsletter!).
Not long ago, the BPW Florida mission statement (see above) was revised to replace the word 'information' with 'connections.' The change was made to better reflect what members value most about their BPW membership.
Our 2025 member survey reinforced this sentiment: staying connected with friends and making new friends are the #2 and #3 reasons why our members remain members. (Reason #1 is to support our mission of equity for working women.)
The social value of connecting with friends is evident in the survey responses. But the benefits of strong connections -- especially between women -- go far beyond simply having people to hang out with.
Studies consistently show that people who nurture strong social connections enjoy longer, healthier lives. This is especially true for those who engage in group activities that focus on helping others - through volunteering or fundraising, for example.
For women in particular, strong connections with other women serve another vital purpose: stress reduction. A landmark UCLA study conducted 25 years ago found that a woman's hormonal response to stress can trigger the urge to tend and befriend. Whereas men more often turn to a fight-or-flight strategy when faced with high-stress situations, women are more likely to tend to their families and seek connection and support from other women, which lowers cortisol levels and improves other health markers.
Here's the thing, though... when we get overly stressed, it can be tempting (and far too easy) to cut off connections. Because we're not feeling like our best selves. Because we don't want to be a 'downer.' Because the very thought of interacting can add to our overwhelm.
And yet, that's the time we need our connections most.
Whether or not you're a BPW member, if this resonates with you, I hope you'll consider the 'befriend' approach and join us at an upcoming BPW event, where the connections are genuine and plentiful. You can start by checking out our luncheon next Wednesday, July 16, where mental health practitioner Maureen Dunleavy will share expert advice for coping with stress and trauma.
And if not that, consider popping into our virtual coffee chat on Wednesday, August 6 at 8 a.m. It's a no-judgment, no-dress-code, no-formalities zone where making personal connections is the whole point.
Let's connect soon,
