Value of Friendship (Inspired by Ripple)

The value of friendship in our lives

The value of friendship has been on my mind lately. I recently finished the series Ripple, and it offered such a beautiful reminder of how one small interaction can shift the direction of someone’s life. Relationship coaching has taught me that the people who influence us the most are not always romantic partners. Sometimes they are unexpected friends, mentors, neighbors, or acquaintances who say one sentence at the right moment or open a door we never knew existed.

The value of friendship in a fast dating culture

Modern dating culture moves at lightning speed. We swipe, assess, sort, and decide within seconds. We are conditioned to search for chemistry and romantic potential first. But when we operate that way, we often overlook the value of friendship and how much richness and meaning non-romantic connections can bring.

I see this often in my work. As a professional matchmaker and dating coach in Boston, I work with singles who are incredibly intentional about how to find love. They want clarity, compatibility, emotional maturity, and a secure partner. All of which are important. But somewhere along the way, society taught us that if a connection does not lead to romance, it has failed. In reality, friendship is often the foundation that makes love possible in the first place.

Friendship is not a consolation prize. It is a genuine outcome with its own rewards. As a dating expert, I have seen friendships lead to new careers, new passions, new communities, and new confidence. And sometimes, in a fun twist of fate, friendships lead to romance years later when timing finally aligns.

Why chemistry is not the only metric

In dating, chemistry is treated like a finish line. Is there a spark? Is it instant? Does it feel electric? If not, next. But chemistry is unpredictable. It is influenced by timing, stress, nervous system regulation, attachment style, and whether someone feels safe enough to be themselves. Which is why so many people miss out on the value of friendship with someone who could have become an important part of their life.

Some of the strongest partnerships I have seen in my matchmaking practice didn’t begin with butterflies. They began with comfort, curiosity, and low stakes connection. Two people enjoyed each other, became friends, and eventually realized that friendship had quietly built attraction, trust, and emotional safety. That is the beauty of slow chemistry.

Ripple and the value of friendship

Netflix's series Ripple brings this to life in such a simple and human way. Someone offers a piece of advice, a ride, a helping hand, or a moment of honesty. None of it looks like a grand romantic gesture, yet the result is a ripple effect that changes everything downstream. It reminded me how often ordinary interactions shape extraordinary outcomes.

The value of friendship lives in those small moments. The moment someone helps you see a part of yourself you had been overlooking. The moment someone encourages a dream you were scared to admit. The moment someone simply laughs with you and makes life feel lighter for an afternoon. Those moments are not small. They are architecture for how we grow.

Being open makes life richer

As a matchmaker in Boston, one of the biggest truths I witness is that openness is everything. When we stay open to connection, the world becomes more generous. New people enter our lives who are not there to entertain us or audition for romance. They are there to expand us.

The value of friendship is that it stretches who we are. It teaches us compassion, perspective, humor, patience, and sometimes humility. Friendship can be medicine in a world that is increasingly transactional and rushed. And even if the people we meet never become romantic partners, they may still become the ones who recommend a therapist, introduce us to a new hobby, or open the door to a community that changes how we see ourselves.

So here is my invitation. Slow down. Stay curious. Be open to people even when there is no spark. You never know who may shift the trajectory of your story with one sentence or one act of kindness.

***********************

Anna Morgan Coaching specializes in guiding men and women in breaking through emotional barriers and developing the mindset and skills needed for successful dating. Anna offers 1:1 dating coaching for men, dating coaching for women, matchmaking, relationship coaching, and empowering dating profile pictures for successful online dating. Book a free discovery call and learn how your dating life can be changed.