The three kinds of connection we all need

Tons of us have only one.

To be complete, we all need three types of connection:

1 - INTIMATE - we get this from a romantic partner

2 - RELATIONAL - this comes from a friend

3 - COMMUNAL - this stems from being part of a community

This isn’t my idea. This all comes from Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MBA, former U.S. Surgeon General, who’s spoken and written at length about loneliness and isolation, especially their impact on men in this country.

And he’s right. If my only conversation in a given day is with my wife, I’m missing those other two types of connection. This puts a tremendous burden on my partner, as SNL represented in their 2021 skit “Man Park,” which I deeply appreciate but can’t seem to find funny (it hits a little too close to home.)

So how can I and other men get it right when it comes to socializing and connection?