Relationship Rooted in Best Friendship
How many times have you heard, “He’s my best friend,” in response to the question, “What’s your relationship secret?” Couples who have been married 30, 40, even 50 years report that their lover is also their best friend. And even 19th century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said, “It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.” And this isn’t just anecdotal evidence. It’s also backed up by research. A 2014 working paper from the National Bureau of Economics found that couples who said they were each other’s best friends were happier, and reported higher life satisfaction, than couples who considered someone else to be their best friend. “Maybe what is really important in a relationship is friendship, and to never forget that in the push and pull of daily life,” said John Helliwell, one of the study’s coauthors. It takes a commitment of time and investment in another person to get to the place where you consider him or he...