Seeking Longevity

There are no earth-shattering take-aways on what makes marriage work and last but good reminders anyway

Emotional connection matters more than anything else. Couples who feel secure with each other aren’t just happier: they’re healthier and less stressed over the long term. It’s not about grand gestures, but about consistently feeling seen, supported, and understood. What is not called but worth pondering is what builds emotional connection in the first place. The answer can be wildly different based on the couple. So perhaps it is important to know what building blocks the two need to build that connection and make sure they exist.

Building a strong partnership also means actively investing in your relationship. Sharing goals, staying curious about each other, and making time for fun together helps couples grow closer over the years. Perfection isn’t the goal; flexibility and the willingness to adapt to each other’s needs matter far more. Staying curious and invested can also mean supporting things that you find tangentially interesting or quirky about your partner. But that is their special thing, it is what makes them who they are. So it needs feed and care. 

No surprise here but good to see the research finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health. Sadly, the converse is definitely true as well.