“What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger” ~ so said philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche back in the latter part of the 19th century. Fittingly, he died of a mental breakdown at the age of 44 – so he knew a little about what he was speaking of.
And while I’m sure that Nietzche wasn’t suggesting that you fill you life with adversity in order to become a person of fortitude, I’m going to encourage you to do this to your relationship…in small doses.
I think a good relationship is strengthened when it is challenged. I’m not suggesting adultery here, rather something a little milder (plus, note I said a ‘good relationship’). I’m saying couples should get lost together.
This all stems not from ponderings of Nietzsche’s philosophy but from catching an old Canadian classic on the radio – Lost Together by Blue Rodeo. I Googled it in my nostalgic state, and while seeing the video on YouTube made me feel old, hearing it reminded me of why being lost together is so magical.
You see, being lost is rare these days. With GPS, Google Earth, and lifestyle schedules that mark every minute of the day, it’s pretty hard not to be exactly where you expect to be. But, when you do find yourselves somewhere else, that’s when the strength of the relationship comes out. You learn to work as a team again, you’re solving a problem together, you’re facing adversity and winning (assuming you aren’t completely directionally challenged). And, in some cases, you let go of expectations and rediscover each other and the space you are in. Romantic, right?
The song itself is talking about love, about being in each other’s mess and it not mattering because you are together. So, get lost together! It will remind you that, to paraphrase Blue Rodeo (and I guess quote The Beatles) ‘Love is all that you need’.
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