This is Hello Freedom and I'm your host Terry Cole.

For almost two decades I've been a licensed psychotherapist and transformation coach, and on this show I will bring you simple strategies based on practical psychology, inspiring expert interviews, and my own insights and observations

from my time on the front lines of the fascinating worlds of entertainment,

empowerment, and mental health.

Now let's get going with today's episode. Well, hello and welcome to this week's episode. So lately, because I just

created a little mini course in this, I've been thinking a ton about female friendships.

And I think a lot of this probably can apply to male friendships as well, but female friendships are really, really specific and particular. So let me start with a question. Have you ever

had a friend who is always giving you backhanded compliments? I'll start with a little

story shall I? so it was 2002 I was walking into a beautiful

restaurant to have Sunday brunch with my girlfriends we'd had a terrible winter that

year I just cut eight inches of yucky winter hair off my head.

I had my little short dew, I had little sandals on, I was so excited. And as I walk in,

I say as I'm approaching the table, this person, I'll call her AB, that would be her name,

says, oh my God, I can't believe you finally cut that hair.

Your new dude, it looks so, how should I say this, matronly?

Do you know what matronly means? It would be the exact opposite of anything that I would want to feel

in my early 30s, or any time for that matter.

It's basically like saying you look like a librarian

and not a sexy librarian or somebody's grandmother.

I was so pissed and I was like, oh, thanks, I get, I don't even know thanks, not even thanks.

Now, A even things.

Now, A B was what I now know is she was a friend of me.

...