It’s striking how, as the years go by, divorces and separations have taken center stage in relationships—regardless of age, status, or race.

From what I’ve read, those who manage to keep a long, steady relationship have become a rare breed. These days, many people live alone; others move back in with parents or relatives. Some couples, even after breaking up, keep sharing a roof because one of them can’t afford to start life on their own.

It’s a serious problem that, in my eyes, keeps growing like a snowball—rolling downhill while few seem to notice or care.

Those who aren’t part of that small minority often claim they’re happier alone, but the numbers tell a different story. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness have become silent epidemics—and suicides rise in their shadows. There’s nothing sweeter, though, than reaching the end of the day, sitting beside your partner, and sharing how it went—the defeats, the victories—and seasoning it all with a few gentle I love yous. That’s beauty in its purest form.

People like to say, “better alone than in bad company,” but humans weren’t made to live in solitude. We need connection—to grow, to heal, to feel alive. The trouble is that so many relationships begin on fragile ground. Each person sees the other through a lens of hope, or assumes that time will fix what’s missing, and, in doing so, overlooks who the other truly is. We’ve forgotten what dating was meant to be—the sacred stage of discovery—before building something lasting and true.

So, if you ever find yourself alone, remember—you’ve got a friend here. Don’t hesitate to reach out; I’ll be here to listen. Because friends, after all, are meant to take care of each other.

That’s my five minutes.