Recently a friend of mine called me up and told me she had a problem. A big one. One of her oldest best guyfriends had admitted to having feelings for her. Girl was shook. Not because she didn’t see it coming, but because she didn’t know what to do about it. You see, there’s definitely love between the two of them. But love isn’t enough to build a longterm relationship. Contrary to popular belief, love does not, in fact, conquer all.
Call me unromantic or whatever, I like to think I’m being practical. Let’s look at some examples of powercouples who work for reasons other than love (as far as we can tell from the outside, of course).
Gabrielle Union & Dwayne Wade
I love this lady, honestly. Buuuuut the reason she’s in this list is because she has not made a secret out of the fact that she and her husband, NBA force of nature Dwayne Wade, were best friends before anything. And the best part is you can tell that they have fun together. At the same time they’ve committed to raising kids together, building a family and have aligned their values accordingly.
Beyoncé & Jay Z
I’m not sure how Jay Z spells his name these days, so this’ll have to do. But you know I had to include these two. The number one thing I admire most about this couple is their ability to manage their brand. This is also where I think their strength lies. Their personal and professional lives are very much intertwined and they both strengthen each other. When Beyoncé started out she was just another R&B singer (don’t fight me on this – you know it’s true), but as she’s grown both as a person and an artist, her work has gotten more meaning and she has been able to use her platform in ways that Jay Z has long been using his. I think this is his influence. On the flipside Beyoncé’s (apparent) devotion and status adds to Jay Z’s empire as well.
The Obamas
Yes, I know, politics. But what sets these two apart is that they present themselves as a team. They’re each other’s ride or die. They’re a unit. And a lot of that probably has to do with shared goals.
So obviously these examples have to be taken with a grain of salt, as you never know what’s going on behind closed doors. These examples are completely based on assumptions.
So back to my friend’s problem. As close as these two are, their longterm goals don’t align. Not in the slightest. And in my own personal humble opinion, that’s one of the most important factors in being able to build a future with someone. Don’t get me wrong, love is important. Very much so. But trust, honesty, loyalty and shared goals is what builds a life together.
But then again, what do I know? I’m just talking 🙂