Hello, welcome back to another edition of the I'm Tired podcast.

I'm your host, Grace Valentine.

I'm an author, speaker, blogger, but most importantly, I'm a friend.

Today on the podcast, I'm so excited to have one of my new friends, Haley, and we're talking

about a topic that's very hard and kind of confusing a lot of times, especially if you're in high school, college, or even postgrad. And so it's about can girls and guys be friends? And I'm excited because Haley is bubbling, and she's friends with anyone she meets, and she has the gift of friendship. And it's something that I noticed when I first moved to Orlando. I was like, okay, this girl knows everyone. And so I'm excited for you to be able to hear about her wisdom and everything that she has learned in her life. And we can discuss and have a conversation about this topic together. So Haley, thank you so much for coming today. Grace, thank you for having me. So excited to be here. I remember when I was first moving to Orlando, I think I like message you and I was like, hey, like you're like one of those Orlando gals. I've been here my whole life. Because you're, we met when you visited, so I worked at Camp Crushidge and you visit. I talk about that every podcast. Oh, what's that? Yeah, like this little thing. Everyone Orlando knows. And you visited Gracie, right? Yes. And that's your little. Yep, I was up visiting Gracie and a few other friends that worked up there.

Mm-hmm. everything, everyone in Orlando knows. And you visited Gracie, right? And that's your little. Yeah, I was up visiting Gracie and a few other friends that worked up there. And yeah, we went to get ice cream together. Yeah, that's where I met you. Basically mellow mushroom or something. You had funky pants. I was like, I can be friends with this girl. Oh my gosh. Funky pants were definitely in. Yes, they're always in. They're still in my eyes.

But so I've noticed, too, the reason I asked, I was like thinking of random topics and I asked people for their opinion and maybe one person gave me this opinion to do this podcast. But I was like, whatever. I think it's needed right now in this time of life. And in looking back on my past, I was like, I wish someone would have helped me understand how to navigate this. and I know that you have a lot of friends in general.

And I was like, I feel like H have helped me understand how to navigate this. And I know that you have a lot of friends in general. And I was like, I feel like Haley has so much wisdom on girl guy friendships. And so. Oh gosh. Yeah. I've got a little bit. Definitely, definitely no expert. Definitely journeying in it right now. Well, I loved when I said, it was funny, I was joking with Haley. I was like, yes, I want you. And Haley's like, okay, I'm not an expert. Like day like I'm nervous and I'm like if I wanted a pastor Haley I would have asked one to be on this I wanted Haley I'm definitely not that so but I'm excited so do you have any guy friends in your life like is that something that's common for you yeah that's um that's kind of been a lot of my life. I feel like it's seasonal for sure, but I think I kind of grew up.

I have two brothers.

We have like a lot of years between us, but I grew up with like a lot of boy cousins,

a lot of guy friends, family friends, and then had a good amount of guy friends in high

school. And then I feel like college was really a time where I had a good amount of guy friends in high school.

And then I feel like college was really a time where I had a lot of girlfriends, which now I feel like was really special.

But I've kind of come, moved back to my hometown.

And there's a good group kind of in their 20s around here.

And there's a lot of guys.

And so it's been seasonal, but it's definitely been a season where I feel like,

oh, there's a lot of, like, guy friends around. So it's been fun. And I relate to that, too, because I have a brother. And we're, like, close, not like that close, but I feel like even just growing up with a brother around, you're just so used to a, and it's almost comforting to have, like a male opinion of presence because it'll tell you when you're crazy.

Definitely.

And it becomes something that to have like a male opinion of presence because it'll tell you when you're crazy.

And it becomes something that you're used to and you miss it when I was like in those seasons of college too.

I was like when I miss having like a guy friendship, especially in the beginning, I then realized how much those meant to me.

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