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There's a very popular venn diagram about the 3 elements that make up a relationship (You can find it here). The 3 elements include love, sex, and friendship. I'm going to only be talking about one of them in this note, and personally, I believe this one if the most important - Friendship.
So between love, sex, and friendship, why do I think friendship is the most important one of all? Here are a couple of reasons why:
Friendships are the foundations of strong relationships
Almost all stable relationships have couples starting out as friends or becoming friends somewhere along the way. Sure, a relationship may start with the excitement and infatuation of meeting someone new. But overtime, this excitement and infatuation will die down and if those are the only things still holding the relationship together, then I can guarantee it will not go very far.
There are people in "friends with benefits" relationships that's actually in it for the "benefits" more than the friendship. They always say that there are no feelings involved and that it's purely just for the benefits. But, I can assure you that one day, someone will get hurt. It usually happens when one person finds someone else that they can click with. This is because the process of getting to know someone, learning about them, and having the ability to connect with them is worth so much more than just a relationship with purely benefits.
Friendships last the longest
Friendships endure and thrive the longest compared to the other two. You're probably thinking "hey, love endures and thrives pretty long too!". Yes, love does endure and thrive. But it's mainly because of the friendship that brought them together in the first place. Without friendship, couples will have a much lower chance going for the long run.
Friendship means actually giving a sh*t
Anyone who has had a best friend can tell you that friends always have your back when things go wrong. They support you at all times - whether you need or don't need their help, they'll be there. Friends fight and friends argue. But they also forgive and forget. Friends love each other, cherish each other, respect each other, and encourage each other despite their failures. They don't give up on you and with that, they will continue to support you until you make it.
When you're in a relationship, it's very easy to forget that you're not only lovers, but also friends. We always take things for granted, and that includes the friendship part of the relationship. Friendship is strong, but at the same time, it takes time and energy from both people to be nurtured and cherished. It definitely takes a lot of work to maintain a strong friendship. But if both people put in the effort, the happiness that comes is worth every moment.
P.S. - Even if things don't work out between a couple built on friendship, it will definitely be one of the most memorable relationships.
Disclaimer - This might be a sensitive topic for some people so I truly apologize to you if I have offended anyone or brought back any unwanted feelings. I sincerely hope that everyone finds the best friend that they've been looking for.
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