Real Sisterhood: What It Looks Like

Sisterhood is a sacred thing. It’s not just some word people toss around to sound sweet on the surface. It’s not a hashtag. It’s not a trend. Real sisterhood is earned, kept, and cherished. It’s the kind of bond that’s hard to put into words but impossible to ignore when it’s real. It’s where you feel safe and seen and still get stretched. Where you’re allowed to be soft one day and strong the next, and no one calls you inconsistent. They call you human. They call you sister.

The women in my circle are not just my friends. They are my mirrors, my sounding boards, my backup when I need it, and my challengers when I get comfortable. They’re the ones who say, “Girl, you’re not dreaming big enough,” or, “You know that ain’t you, right?” They support me, but they also push me. They celebrate with me, and they cry with me. They don’t just want to see me win. They want to see me whole.

True loyalty in sisterhood doesn’t always show up loud. Sometimes it’s a quiet check-in. Sometimes it’s a look across the room that says everything without a word. And sometimes, it’s knowing when not to jump in. There’s this idea that if someone doesn’t speak up for you in the moment, they don’t care. But that’s not always true. Sometimes real loyalty means pulling you aside later and saying, “Here’s what really went down.” Not everything needs to be a scene. Sometimes the deepest respect is handled in private.

That’s the kind of sisterhood I value. Women who let me learn. Women who don’t embarrass me to prove a point but hold space for me to process. Who ask if I’m ready to talk. Who remind me I don’t have to go through it alone. There’s something powerful about having people around you who aren’t trying to be your savior. They’re just trying to help you remember who you are.

Friendship isn’t always clean and pretty. It’s messy sometimes. It can be uncomfortable. We get our feelings hurt. We don’t always communicate the way we should. But when the foundation is solid, when it’s built on love and truth and grace, we keep coming back to the table. We keep showing up. We apologize. We forgive. We try again. And the hard moments? They just make the good ones shine even brighter.

There is nothing like watching your sister win. Nothing. When she finally reaches the goal she’s been grinding toward, when her name gets called, when her voice is heard, when her heart is full it’s magic. And if your first feeling is pride and not jealousy, that’s how you know it’s real. You clap the loudest. You brag on her. You show up. Because her win doesn’t take anything from you. It adds to the whole. In sisterhood, we don’t compete. We confirm.

We speak affirmations over each other. We remind each other what’s true. Not what fear says. Not what failure says. But what faith says. We say things like, “You’re built for this,” and “God put this in you for a reason,” and “You’ve done hard things before and you’ll do this too.” And sometimes we don’t need advice or solutions. We just need someone to say, “I believe in you.” And mean it.

Sisterhood comes with direction too. There are times when we don’t know what we’re doing. Times we’re tired. Times we’re scared. And someone in that circle will say, “Let’s make a plan.” Or “Here’s what I’ve learned.” Or “I’ve got you, but you’ve got this.” They won’t do it for you. But they’ll walk beside you while you figure it out. And when you forget what you're capable of, they remind you.

They remind you that you’ve got fire. That you’ve got talent. That you’ve got something special this world needs. They remind you of your purpose when you start drifting. And when doubt creeps in, they cover you in prayers and pep talks and playlists and anything else that helps you rise. Because they know the power of having someone in your corner who won’t let you quit.

That kind of love is rare. And it’s worth protecting. Sisterhood like that is a blessing. It’s not always easy. But it’s always worth it. So if you’ve got women like that in your life, let them know. Speak their names. Celebrate them. Show up for them the way they show up for you.

And if you don’t have that yet, don’t give up. Keep being the kind of woman who cheers for others. Keep being real. Keep being kind. Keep building yourself. Because one day, your people will find you. And when they do, it’ll feel like home.

That’s what sisterhood is. A place to grow, to fall, to get back up. A place where your voice matters and your silence is still heard. A place where your name gets spoken in rooms you’re not even in. A place where love doesn’t require perfection. Just presence.

And I thank God for mine every day.


© 2025 Jenise Ehrhardt / Expressive DeZien. All rights reserved. This content may not be copied, reproduced, or used without written permission.