Wonderbringers Newsletter with Monica Parker
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Hello wonderseekers!
Last week, I shared my thoughts on the and finding your tribe, so as promised, this week is about friendship. Previously, I’ve shared some tips about how to make friends, but this week, I’ll just examine the building blocks of solid friendships according to author Julie Beck from her series “The Friendship Files.” One of them is imagination. This is where we are free to be odd, safe in the comfort that our friendships don’t have to look like everyone (or anyone) else’s.
And thinking about what makes a friend, tomorrow is my ten-year wedding anniversary. What do friendships look like when your best friend is your romantic partner? I know some people feel that’s not healthy or realistic, but what do you call the person who is your ride-or-die, favourite playmate, and partner-in-crime? That, for me, is my best friend. It can’t be a completely bad idea, as according to one study, people who named their spouse as their best friend are twice as likely to have higher life satisfaction.
Some researchers say being a best friend with your spouse should be a given, so calling them your bestie is superfluous, but regrettably, in according to one author, 83% of people don’t even like their spouse. And then other researchers still say that the basis of friendship is unconditional acceptance, and that isn't healthy in a marriage. But I challenge that as unconditional acceptance still has limits— would you stay friends with someone who made a habit of assaulting you, for example?
Either way, you look at it, I think the elements that build strong friendships also build strong marriages. Have a listen to the six elements that forge strong friendships, and let me know what you think.
Some wonderbringers for me this week:
The people buying houses with their friends: “I think it was always in the back of our minds that this could get messy.”
Ever thought of ranking your friends in silly, random categories?: Fun way to provoke some potentially meaningful conversations. (Thanks reader Kelly for this link!)
Treasure your friends at the top of your love hierarchy: Lovers and children are great, but friends are the heart of happiness, of family, and of love itself.
Speaking of friends, it is always a joy to reconnect with Ann O’Dea and Jenny Darmody, two long-term friends and supporters of mine. I had the chance to chat with Jenny about the future of work and I shared the mic with Josh Bersin, a rockstar in the HR and leadership sphere. In the podcast we discuss the future of work in light of AI, and what that means to the next generation of workers.
With wonder,
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