Why Friendship Makes Life Happier: Tuesday Morning with Lynn Pritchard
Written by Lynn Pritchard September 23, 2026
I watched a TED Talk by psychologist Susan Pinker about Sardinia, Italy, a place known for people living unusually long lives. She talked about the way people there are woven into one another's everyday lives. They see their neighbors. They stop and talk. They spend time face to face with the people who matter to them.
I kept thinking about that afterward. We often talk about happiness as though it is something we have to find by ourselves. Maybe we need a better job, a perfect vacation, or the day when every task is finally done. But think about the last time you laughed so hard you could barely finish a story. Were you alone? My guess is that someone was laughing with you.
That is what friendship gives us. A friend does more than fill an empty hour. A friend notices us. They remember the story behind our good news. They ask how something went because they know it mattered to us. We get to know their stories, too. Over time, those shared memories give us a feeling that is hard to create on our own: I belong in someone's life, and they belong in mine.
Friendship also turns ordinary things into something we look forward to. Tea tastes the same whether we drink it alone or with a friend, but the conversation can make the afternoon. A walk becomes a chance to hear what is going on in each other's lives. Even an errand can become fun if we bring the right person along. We make one another laugh, and the day feels a little lighter.
That does not mean we need dozens of friends or a busy calendar. The point I took from the talk was connection, especially the kind that happens when we actually make time to be together. One good friend who shows up can mean more than a hundred names in a phone. Family, neighbors, and new friends can be part of that circle, too.
There is happiness on both sides of a friendship. It feels wonderful when someone remembers us, but it also feels wonderful to be the one who remembers. We can celebrate a friend's news, invite them out, check in, or listen to a story they have told before. When we give someone our time, we are building something that makes both lives richer.
So here is my lesson for this week: do not wait for a special occasion to spend time with someone you love. Call the friend you have been meaning to call. Ask them to have coffee or take a walk. And if you both need an excuse to get out of the house, I happen to know a place where you can make a candle together. I may even know the owner.
The candle is just an excuse, of course. The good part is choosing scents, laughing about your choices, and going home with a new memory to share.
Maybe friendships add years to our lives; that is a question researchers continue to study. I know they add life to our years. Every shared laugh, familiar face, and unhurried conversation reminds us that happiness often grows between people.
Love you all Lynn Pirtchard Owner and founder of Spiritual Uplifts
Inspired by Susan Pinker's TED Talk, “The secret to living longer may be your social life”: https://www.ted.com/talks/susan_pinker_the_secret_to_living_longer_may_be_your_social_life
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