Joy and Ellie form an unlikely friendship. How do those differences help each woman see herself? Why do you think their friendship works?

Joy and Ellie form an unlikely friendship. Joy has essentially been a kept woman all her adult life, and Ellie has had to work and raise a family at the same time. How do those differences help each woman see herself? Why do you think their friendship works?

Ellie definitely needed a break from her husband and life. She found solace and inspiration in Joy. Joy needed a purpose and to think of something besides her looks and her loneliness. Ellie helped her see that she was so much more than appearances and had personal qualities to share to improve others lives, which improved her own life.

Ellie can talk openly to Joy about Gerald's emotional affair. Ellie feels safe in confiding in Joy, and Joy's feedback reassures Ellie that she is not overreacting. Ellie doesn't want her children to know that there is trouble in their parents' marriage. Ellie provides Joy the confidence to show that she can do so much more with her life.

Ellie needs someone for support in order to help understand and recover from Gerald's emotional affair and finds this with Joy. Joy finds comfort and pleasure plus purpose in this role.

The provide emotional support for each other.

Joy is encouraged to find meaning in volunteering - and loves it.

Ellie is able to vent and process her hurt with someone who will not judge her and who gives her space to heal.

Ellie helped Joy see herself differently - as a person with gifts. Joy helped Ellie by being a sounding board.

Joy and Ellie shared a mutual fascination with each other. Neither of them had ever known someone like the other, much less enjoyed a friendship with someone so different. Joy was longing for stable and affectionate relationships since she only had such a relationsihp with her late brother, and Joy needed a place to stay & someone willing to listen and commiserate. So what began as an arrangement that would benefit both of them grew into a deep & impactful friendship. Because they had such different backgrounds, they were able to bring differing perspectives and viewpoints to their friendship which help both of them to grow and make decisions about their futures. They encouraged each other & celebrated each other's victories. It was a lovely depiction of not just the friendship between Joy and Ellie, but also the friendship of Joy and Lark, and the way in which Joy not only found direction in her life, but found a family, as well.

The older I get, the more diverse my group of friends. Each offers something different. This was true for Ellie and Joy. Ellie offers Joy the encouragement to do more with her life. Joy offers Ellie a non- judgmental sounding board to help alleviate her pain.

Joy helped Ellie relax and take care of herself sometimes instead of always focusing on others. Ellie taught Joy that she had worth and something to offer to others.

It was a judgment-free relationships that was perfect for both women. They were there to support, encourage, and listen to each other. Their respective strengths made that friendship better.

Each woman was in a vulnerable place emotionally. By being so different and so unknown to each other, they were able to offer one another new perspectives and nonjudgmental listening at a time when each needed support. As others have said, they encouraged one another to try things differently and see themselves in new ways. I think sometimes the friendships we form at one time in our lives can be very different from the friendships we form at another time, and our friends can serve different functions as we have new experiences and reach new stages in life. Ellie and Joy might have had no interest in each other if they had met ten years earlier, but in their present circumstances they were invaluable to one another. Joy's house also offered a place of healing for both of them, and Joy's willingness - eagerness, even - to welcome Ellie into her home created an opening for their friendship.