Today is the second Friday Q&A and I am so excited with the response! Just a refresher: I have added an “Ask Lauren” tab to the top of my blog. There, you can ask me any question you want and I will answer it honestly. You can also leave comments or suggestions there as well!

Q from Casi: If you could be any animal in the world what would it be and why?
A: If I could be one animal in the world, I would be a cross between a horse and a panther. I love cats – big cats. I love how stealthy, mysterious and powerful they are. I love cats, also, because their love isn’t necessarily unconditional. They aren’t like dogs in that they love everyone and everything. You have to earn their love, and for that, I respect cats. Plus, panthers are just sexy. Horses are incredibly creatures. They are graceful and loyal and all-around beautiful. They have unique personalities and are loving animals.

Q from Ashley: You have 1 minute to leave your apartment (pretend a flood/fire/quake is happening), what are the three items you will grab to take with you (yes, only three).

A: Easy. My cat. My laptop (that has all my pictures on it), and my journals. It would definitely be hard to leave my shoe collection, but I’d live.

Q from Aubrey: You seem to have been on so many amazing vacations. Which one was your favorite
trip? Why? Also, if you could go anywhere, where do you want to go?

A: Oh man, yes, I’ve been travelling all over the place. I don’t know if I could actually pick a favorite vacation because they were all so different! Jamaica was incredible. The warm weather, the sunshine, the beach, the utter relaxation – can’t beat it. It was especially great because I completely unplugged. I didn’t have a phone or use a computer or work at all. It was true relaxation. Plus, I met some great people 🙂 Arizona was also great even though it was a short trip. It’s always nice to spend time with family! And Vegas? Vegas is Vegas, baby. It was a blast! I’ve always wanted to backpack through western Europe. I’ve never been to Europe and the culture just fascinates me. I’d love to find time to explore the countries in western Europe. It would definitely be an adventure. When do you wanna go? 🙂

Q from Wendy: Dear Lauren, I have a girlfriend that I thought I was quite close to, I really love her and appreciate her friendship. We live in different states and over the years seem to have grown apart. It seems that during the past several years, I have made the most effort and she has made very little. I want her in my life, but how do I tell her that she needs to work a bit harder at this friendship? Is her effort indicative of her level of commitment to this friendship or am I just being too sensitive?

A: I can totally relate. I’ve dealt with this a bit since I moved out to San Francisco. Distance is quite the obstacle to overcome when you’re trying to maintain a relationship. So, let me start with this: All relationships, whether friendships or otherwise, are two-way streets. It’s important in order to maintain a healthy relationship that both parties are participating in keeping the friendship alive equally. Once one person begins to feel as though they’re “making more effort” it turns into resentment. If she is one of your close friends, you should be able to talk to her about your concerns. Communication is key in maintaining relationships, especially if they’re long-distance. Communication is really all you’ve got. So, I would bring it up to her. Voice your concerns. Give examples. Say that you do love her and that you do want her in your life but that it has to be a mutual effort, as it does in all relationships. See how she reacts. You’re definitely not being too sensitive. If this is how you feel, act on it. Speak your mind. Otherwise, nothing will get resolved. Chances are, she doesn’t even notice! So point it out! But if it does have something to do with the level of her commitment to the friendship, it’s always better to find out through honesty. One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced moving out to San Francisco is learning who my true friends are. Some people who I thought I was really close with, I turned out to grow apart from. And that’s ok – people change, people grow, and the important people grow with you even if you’re growing in different directions. Hope that helps!

I’m looking forward to next week’s questions! Ask away!