The hottest Relationships Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Health & Wellness Topics

Found in Translation

Seven Senses • 439 implied HN points • 25 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Friendship Communication Society Traditions Relationships
  1. Friendship can look very different depending on where you are from. For example, friendships in the US can be more open but less deep than in many European cultures.
  2. The pace of life affects friendships too. In some places, like France, people take their time to enjoy meals and socializing, while in the US, there's often a hurry to get things done.
  3. Cultural norms shape how we see friendships. In some cultures, having a few close friends is valued, while in others, people might have many acquaintances but fewer deep connections.

Perfectly Round Eggs On A Saturday Afternoon

Soaring Twenties • 146 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Literature Art Lifestyle Relationships Personal Reflection
  1. The writer enjoys a calm Saturday morning filled with small, loving moments. Waking up slowly and spending time together sets a positive tone for the day.
  2. Cooking is a shared activity that brings them joy, like making perfectly round eggs in the kitchen. This simple task highlights their connection.
  3. They cherish being present with each other, discussing plans for the day and expressing their love. It showcases the importance of quality time in relationships.

Every kid deserves an Aunt Bobbie

The Watch • 1178 implied HN points • 07 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Identity Relationships Aging Personal Growth Family
  1. Every kid needs someone outside their family who believes in them. This support can help them feel valued and understood.
  2. Having a close relationship with a quirky and caring mentor can enrich a child's life. These special people can inspire us and create lasting memories.
  3. Even if you don't have kids, you can still make a positive impact on younger generations. Being a supportive figure can make a difference in their lives, just like Aunt Bobbie did.

Ask a Divorced Person (in 2025)

Culture Study • 2795 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Divorce Parenting Mental health Social Dynamics
  1. Divorce can be a positive step for people in unhealthy relationships. It can bring freedom and greatly improve overall happiness.
  2. It's normal to feel guilty and uncertain about wanting a divorce, but it's important to prioritize your own happiness and well-being.
  3. Communication about feelings and the state of a relationship is key. Talking openly with a partner can help clarify whether to stay or leave.

Desire Digest 001

Many Such Cases • 1698 implied HN points • 27 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Sexuality Beauty Social media Relationships Trends
  1. The term 'hawk tuah' became popular online from a viral clip where a woman casually talks about her sexual desires. It shows a fun, carefree attitude towards sexuality, even if it gets commercialized later.
  2. Beauty products are increasingly marketed to signal desire rather than encourage real experiences of intimacy. For example, lip colors are now designed to evoke a feeling of sexiness but might not reflect actual sexual interactions.
  3. Feeld's new feature lets users connect with multiple partners, which aims to embrace non-traditional relationships. However, it raises questions about whether we need more labels when exploring unconventional dynamics.
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Just Friends?

Seven Senses • 279 implied HN points • 01 Sep 24
🎭️ Culture Friendship Gender Relationships Personal Growth Social norms
  1. Sexual attraction can complicate friendships between men and women. It's common for friends to wonder if there's potential for more than just friendship, especially when they're single.
  2. Crossing the friendship boundary to a romantic relationship can change things, but it doesn't mean the friendship is ruined. Many people find that their friendships can actually become even more meaningful after a romantic connection.
  3. Cultural and gender expectations often affect male friendships too. Guys might feel pressure to appear strong and independent, which can make it hard for them to express vulnerability and create deeper friendships.

Friday Thread: Later Loves

Culture Study • 3244 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Personal Stories Aging Experiences
  1. Life is long, and there are many chances to find love at different stages. People can experience deep connections even after major life changes.
  2. It's refreshing to step away from society's relationship expectations. This freedom allows individuals to explore love on their own terms.
  3. Hearing stories about second and third loves can be inspiring for those in later life. It shows that love can come in many forms and at any age.

Walk like a man, stand like a tree.

Neckar’s Notes • 120 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🎭️ Culture Nature Spirituality Philosophy Relationships Personal Growth
  1. It's important to connect with nature, especially trees. Spending time with them can bring peace and insight into life.
  2. Trees symbolize strength and trust. They teach us to be grounded and embrace life's changes with grace.
  3. Walking through life involves movement and exploration, but we can learn a lot by simply being still and listening to the world around us.

How to Show Up For Your Friends Without Kids — and How to Show Up For Kids and Their Parents

Culture Study • 5719 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Community Relationships Parenting Self-care Social norms
  1. Many people feel left out or lonely, regardless of their life situation. It's important to remember that everyone has their own struggles and we should support each other instead of comparing who's worse off.
  2. People want and need help, but often don’t ask for it. We need to communicate better about how we can support each other in our daily lives.
  3. Building and maintaining friendships takes effort and can be messy. Sometimes it's not fun, but it's valuable because it helps us feel connected and cared for.

35

Erik Torenberg's Thoughts • 1848 implied HN points • 13 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Mental health Personal Development Relationships Self-care Emotional Intelligence
  1. Take responsibility for your actions and choices. Instead of blaming others or circumstances, focus on how you can respond and change going forward.
  2. Develop an abundance mindset by wanting others to succeed. When you help others, it creates a positive cycle that often leads to you benefiting too.
  3. It's never too late to change or start something new. Every day is a chance to make improvements in your life and relationships.

The Greatest Love...

Seven Senses • 339 implied HN points • 19 Aug 24
🎭️ Culture Friendship Relationships Society Personal Growth Cultural Commentary
  1. Friendship is really important and can be more lasting than romantic relationships. Friends give us support and joy throughout our lives.
  2. As we grow older, friendships change but can still be very meaningful. We might not spend as much time with friends, but the connections can get deeper with age.
  3. Friendship breakups can be really painful, and it's natural for friendships to move closer or further apart over time. It's okay for relationships to evolve and still hold love.

The Typical Man Disgusts the Typical Woman

Bet On It • 2621 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Social norms Gender Studies Psychology Evolutionary Theory
  1. Men and women often have very different views on attractiveness. Most men rate women highly, but many women rate men much lower.
  2. Rejection isn't just personal; it's often about general trends in attraction. Women may reject many men because they generally find most men less appealing.
  3. Both men and women can improve their dating experiences. Men can work on personal grooming and manners, while women can try to appreciate qualities like charm and humor more.

What Sexual Liberation Really Looks Like

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1794 implied HN points • 15 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Feminism Sexuality Society Gender Relationships
  1. Hookup culture mainly helps men while often making things harder for women. It's important to recognize how this affects women's experiences.
  2. Casual sex isn't necessarily a good thing for women, and deeper connections with partners can lead to more fulfilling relationships.
  3. Not all sexual desires should be acted on, and women don't have to participate in hookup culture just because it's popular.

Love Grows

The Map is Mostly Water • 1643 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Art Media Philosophy Self-development
  1. Love isn't just something that happens to you; it's something you actively work on. Like tending a garden, you have to put in effort to help love grow.
  2. Many people have a casual attitude about love, thinking it will just appear by chance. This mindset can lead to a sense of helplessness in relationships.
  3. Introspection is important, but it needs to be paired with action. If you want love in your life, you have to take initiative and make choices to nurture it.

Marriage

David Friedman’s Substack • 386 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Marriage Economics Family Society Traditions Relationships
  1. Marriage can be viewed as a partnership where both people share responsibilities like income, chores, and caring for children. It's like running a small business together.
  2. People often choose not to buy all services from outside, like cooking or cleaning, because it's easier and cheaper to do these things at home. It saves time and effort to manage these tasks within a marriage instead of hiring others.
  3. The decline in marriage rates might be linked to fewer household responsibilities and easier options for divorce, which make it less binding than before. People are adjusting to a modern world where marriage can seem less necessary.

The woman behind the viral Texas breakup speaks

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3941 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Relationships Digital Communication Youth culture
  1. A musician named Jillian Lavin shared her painful breakup story, where she moved to Texas for her boyfriend, who later ended things with a note. Her video went viral, sparking lots of reactions online.
  2. Different social media platforms reacted differently to Lavin's story. People on Twitter were harsher, while those on Instagram showed more compassion and understanding.
  3. Lavin expressed that despite her viral fame, she'd give it up to be back with her ex-boyfriend, highlighting the emotional toll of the breakup and the public's reaction.

Abusers In Plain Sight

Culture Study • 3937 implied HN points • 10 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Literature Relationships Feminism Trauma Identity
  1. Writing about trauma can bring up a lot of painful memories. It's important to realize that revisiting these experiences requires healing and self-reflection.
  2. Women often feel pressured to maintain relationships through hard work, which can lead to toxic situations. It's crucial to understand when it's time to leave a damaging relationship.
  3. There are many layers to women's experiences of desire and consent in relationships. It’s important to have open conversations about what that looks like and to support each other in understanding our needs.

Low Stakes Thread: Parasocial Pet Relationships

Culture Study • 1513 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Pets Social media Lifestyle Community
  1. People can have strong feelings for pets or animals they see regularly, even if they don't own them. It's nice to name them and feel connected to them, like calling a horse you see often by a special name.
  2. These relationships with animals can bring joy and comfort without much risk or commitment. They can make our daily routines feel more special and personal.
  3. Parasocial pet relationships highlight how we can connect emotionally with animals, just like we do with people, even if it's from a distance. It's a fun way to share experiences and stories about our furry friends.

We All Need to be Loved

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 5 implied HN points • 11 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Relationships Loneliness Marriage Mental health Social media
  1. Loneliness can cause serious health issues and is a big problem today, often made worse by social media and dating apps.
  2. Having love and belonging in our lives is more important than having food or a home. Love helps us grow and achieve our goals.
  3. If you're in a relationship, it's important to cherish it. Everyone deserves love, and it can lead to greater happiness and success in life.

Be It Resolved!

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2156 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Personal Growth Creative Writing Relationships Self-reflection Mindfulness
  1. Make time to appreciate the beautiful things around you every day. It can really lift your spirits and change your perspective.
  2. Focus on writing more deeply and ambitiously. Challenge yourself to explore new forms of writing you haven't tried before.
  3. Invest in your friendships by regularly reaching out and making plans. Being a good friend can bring joy to both you and those you care about.

Is Your Marriage Stressing You Out?

Ladyparts • 1837 implied HN points • 18 Apr 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Marriage Stress Relationships
  1. Researchers found that in married couples where one did not feel supported by the spouse, stress hormone cortisol was present in their saliva
  2. Feeling supported, seen, heard, and loved by your spouse can help reduce chronic stress
  3. The impact of lack of spousal support on mental health can lead individuals to seek help from professionals like psychiatrists

Friday Thread: How Are You Planning For Your Senescence?

Culture Study • 2321 implied HN points • 13 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Aging Retirement Wellness Relationships
  1. It's important to think about how you will take care of yourself as you get older. Planning for your elder years can help ease worries and create a sense of security.
  2. Many people learn valuable lessons from watching loved ones age. These experiences can guide how we approach our own aging.
  3. Retirement planning is a common concern. It's good to think about your financial future and make a plan so you can enjoy your later years.

The Free Press in Love

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1136 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Romance Relationships Personal Stories Narratives
  1. Love can be found in the most unexpected places, like rooftops and newsrooms. It's about recognizing those moments wherever they happen.
  2. Childhood crushes can leave a lasting impression. Even years later, we remember the special feelings we had for that one person.
  3. Jealousy can be a real emotion, especially for kids. It shows how much we care about those we like, even if we don't express it openly.

How to Apologize

Remarkable People • 379 implied HN points • 24 Jul 24
🚌 Education Personal Development Communication Skills Leadership Psychology Relationships
  1. A good apology has three key parts: saying 'I'm sorry', taking responsibility for what you did, and showing that you understand the hurt it caused.
  2. People often struggle to apologize because they think it makes them look weak, but admitting mistakes can actually make you stronger and more respected.
  3. Effective apologies should be followed up with actions to prevent the same mistakes, make amends, and ask for feedback to improve.

#198: Trying to see something

Maybe Baby • 2172 implied HN points • 02 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Relationships Art Mindfulness Self-reflection Gratitude
  1. Over time, people in relationships can notice their differences more than their similarities. It's interesting how our perceptions shift as we get to know someone deeply.
  2. Our appreciation for what we have can fade into the background. It's important to regularly take a moment to recognize and be grateful for the good things in our lives.
  3. Creating or experiencing art can help us appreciate life more fully. It reminds us of sensations we've forgotten and can open our eyes to new feelings and perspectives.

Why (Some) Women are Attracted to Violent Men

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1780 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Psychology Sociology Relationships Gender Studies Evolutionary Theory
  1. Some women are attracted to violent men because they see them as strong and dominant. This can come from an evolutionary perspective where strength was a key survival trait.
  2. The attraction to harmful partners can also stem from personal experiences or a desire for excitement. Some individuals may find thrill in risky relationships.
  3. Cultural influences play a big role in shaping preferences. Media often glamorizes violent behavior, which can affect what people find appealing.

Your Interesting Friend

Culture Study • 1872 implied HN points • 20 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Friendship Relationships Socialization Community Personal Stories
  1. It's valuable to look closely at our friendships, especially those with unexpected people. You might find deeper connections than you thought.
  2. Some of the best friendships can come from surprising places, like people we don’t usually connect with. These relationships can teach us a lot.
  3. Exploring what makes friends interesting can help us understand ourselves and others better. It's a fun exercise to share these stories.

How to Protect What’s Real

Anima Mundi • 61 implied HN points • 24 May 25
📖 Philosophy Relationships Mindfulness Values
  1. To protect what’s real, focus on nurturing and caring for it instead of trying to control it. It's about staying near and paying attention.
  2. Good relationships and valuable things need ongoing effort and kindness, not just occasional attention. It's the small daily choices that keep them alive.
  3. Sometimes, what we call 'protection' is actually fear. Instead of building walls, we should check in and listen to what truly needs our presence.

Games People Play

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 1003 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Psychology Relationships Social Dynamics Human behavior Communication
  1. People often have mixed feelings and hidden messages in their relationships. What they show on the outside might not reflect their true feelings inside.
  2. Understanding the psychological games people play can help us communicate better. Being aware of these dynamics can lead to healthier interactions.
  3. It's important to be open and honest in relationships. Clear communication can help break down barriers and prevent misunderstandings.