The Goodnewspaper The Relationships Edition

There is a meme that originated on Twitter in 2023 ( just months before it became X), consisting of two photos of a little lamb stuffed animal. On one side, a new plush toy is shown in its full glory, with bright white fur and a plump, shapely form. On the other side is a well-worn stuffed animal, its fabric matted and grayed, its size thinned from years of snuggling. The caption reads “too much love.” In a reply, Twitter user @tacticalcoqette responded, “Just the right amount:) to be loved is to be changed.” It became a catchphrase for various wholesome memes — many of which showed photos of puppies versus dogs with graying beards, after years of love and companionship. But deep down, it applies perfectly to the fundamental…

Have you ever found yourself completing your spouse's sentences, or adopting the quirky language and speech patterns of your partner? Well, your open and honest communication might be the culprit. A recent neuroimaging study from researchers in China had their romantic couple subjects — and pairs of strangers — play a simple card game while undergoing brain scans. The results showed that romantic partners achieved higher brain synchronization and used less deception to win the card game, compared to strangers. This suggests that couples may have a neuroscientific advantage in fostering honesty — and deeper brain connections. Interpersonal brain synchronization refers to the brain activity of two or more individuals becoming aligned during social interactions — which is what the brain scans observed in the participants of the study. Synchronization…

In 1998, award-winning photojournalist Sebastião Salgado and his wife, Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, founded their nonprofit nature preserve, Instituto Terra. Over the course of 20 years, the pair was responsible for planting over 2.5 million trees. It all started when Salgado returned from an assignment covering the Rwandan genocide. He and Lélia inherited his father's cattle ranch, which was extremely degraded. “The land was as sick as I was — everything was destroyed,” Salgado said at a Paris climate change meeting in 2015, according to The Guardian. “Then my wife had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees I, too, was reborn — this was the…

In 2020, marriage rates in the United States reached a significant low — 5.1 per capita — likely due to event cancellations caused by COVID-19. But in 2022, reports showed that they rose back up, reaching 6.2 per capita. While rescheduling may have something to do with it, licensed marriage and family therapists told CNN there may be more to consider. Although the pandemic may have given couples a hurdle to overcome, it also forced many to be more intentional about things like finances, family planning, and personal needs. As people lay the groundwork for a more stable future together, it can also lead to more normalized therapy, flexible roles in a marriage, and more. “In my practice over the last decade, I've noticed a gradual shift from the 'romantic…

GOOD Read “The Love Prescription: Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy” by John and Julie Gottman. It shares direct action steps and insights to improve your most important relationships. BETTER Explore (and donate to!) For Better, a nonprofit created by certified relationship therapists to help more people access the (free) tools they need to create strong, lasting relationships. forbetter.us BEST Download the Gottman Card Decks app to explore your relationship and learn more about your partner. The cards prompt discussion on topics like listening, parenting roles, sex, connection, and more.…

Marion and Sandy Ironside of Gamrie, Scotland celebrated 50 years happily married in October 2024, boogeying with their family members in the same venue they wed decades prior. But it wasn't just a party to mark this significant milestone; the pair decided to turn it into a charitable event. In lieu of gifts, the Ironsides asked their family and friends to donate to Alzheimer Scotland, a dementia support organization with Dementia Resource Centers in 25 locations across Scotland. With about 75 guests, they raised a total of £1005 for the organization — which was unveiled with a large, ceremonial check. “It was an amazing night, and it was made even better when we realized how much we had raised,” the couple told Grampian Online. “We are grateful to everyone who…