Hi, reader!
Ever heard the term nitpicking? Do you know where it comes from?
I’ll give you a hint: A friend was recently working to remove lice from his daughter’s hair.
He was literally nitpicking.
Now now, there is no need to nitpick this introduction.
With that, welcome to the 62nd newsletter! This one is all about relationships.
A read.
Good genes are nice, but joy is better by Liz Mineo
Harvard University has been running a study for almost 80 years - it’s one of the longest running studies on adults in history. Amazingly, John F. Kennedy was one of the original recruits for the study.
The study continues to show, decade after decade, that close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives.
One inspiring finding is that the people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80. Chew on that!
A thought.
How many people in your life can you check these boxes for:
I know one thing they struggle with
I know one thing they are trying to accomplish
I know their why / their purpose in life
I know one member of their family well enough to stop them on the street and say hello.
If it’s more than 5, then I would venture to say you must be quite satisfied with the relationships in your life. In order to know these things about others, it means you’ve created a space that allows them to be open and vulnerable with you. This created space only arrives if you’ve been consistently and genuinely intentional about growing the relationship.
How many people in your life can check these boxes about YOU?
A quote.
“A diminishing circle of friends is the first terrible diagnostic of a life in deep trouble…”
Looking for more? You can read the first 61 editions here and check out my podcast on Apple or Spotify!