You and your best friend are inseparable. You know all each other’s secrets. And then she goes and gets a boyfriend or a new friend and gradually – or suddenly – she is no longer available to you. Her other relationship may explode or simply fizzle out, and then she’s back knocking at your door and you let her in. So the cycle continues.
Or maybe you’re the best friend, being so cavalier with your pal’s emotions.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but this is not a healthy relationship. You know it, but you need a friend.
Relationships are essential to human survival. Our bodies and brains are programmed to seek out connection, whether familial, romantic or platonic. Even loners and introverts need some kind of human connection.
In his weighty book Sapiens, historian Yuval Noah Harari writes: ‘Human babies are helpless, dependent for many years on their elders for sustenance, protection and education.
‘This fact has contributed greatly to both humankind’s extraordinary social abilities and to its unique social problems. Lone mothers could hardly forage enough food for their offspring and themselves with needy children in tow. Raising children required constant help from other family members and neighbours. It takes a tribe to raise a human. Evolution thus favoured those capable of forming strong social ties …
He adds: ‘… Homo sapiens is primarily a social animal. Social co-operation is our key for survival and reproduction.’
This story is from the Woman&Home; February 2024 edition of woman & home South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Woman&Home; February 2024 edition of woman & home South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Till death do us part
It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages, said Nietzsche. He may be on to something, says Lorraine Kearney
Hit the ROAD
Ensure your vehicle is as ready as you are for your long-awaited summer road trip
Make a meal of it
There are two basic rules when it comes to wine and food pairing: acidic wine with acidic food, and low acid wine with savoury food, Lorraine Kearney learns
Update your GARDEN
Now's the time to refresh your outdoor space
the art of INTERIORS
Colour and texture are the stars of this apartment, writes MARGARET RAFFERTY
FALLING OFF THE DIET WAGON isn't a disaster
Changing your mindset is key when it comes to smashing your health and fitness goals, says Annie Deadman. Already let things slip? It's not over yet
LIFE after BETRAYAL
Broken trust can take on many forms, but there's always one common denominator - a feeling of hurt that can last for decades
The Ties That Bind
We're all humans, which means we all need relationships to survive. stands to reason that good relationships are the best kind to have. There are ways to get there, says Lorraine Kearney
A beauty REVELATION
The self-care sanctuary Nylde Hoffman and Riëtte Lategan introduced to Stellenbosch has become a sought-after location. We spoke to them about how clients and staff are equally important in their success
Love me, LOVE MY MONEY
Married people are generally wealthier than their single counterparts. But finding peace with your partner when it comes to finances can be a tall order