LESSONS IN ADULTHOOD
T
he first girl crush I had was when I was seven and had just changed schools. She was 11, the captain of the netball team (oh, the cliché!) and blessed with messy blonde curls. I remember looking at her with wide-eyed devotion, wondering if I’d ever be as tall as her. Being older and significantly cooler than me, we didn’t have much to do with each other, but I would feel my heart give a little skip when I saw her at break or when, as a prefect, she ushered us into morning assembly.
She was the first in a long line of girls and women I’ve worshipped from afar. The joy of a girl crush is that you expect nothing from it. It’s not like romantic love, where you spend your time doodling their name, wondering if your feelings will be returned. Nor is it like friendship which requires an understanding of each other’s flaws, plus effort from both of you. A girl crush is a one-sided affair. The joy comes from the feelings of hope and enthusiasm it inspires, and for that a little distance is essential.