The Second Time Around

They say if you love someone or something, let it go and if it's meant to be it will return. Well this saying seems to ring true at least for Ben Stiller and wife Christine Taylor. The couple wed in 2000, had two children and separated in 2017.

The couple has not been public with details about the split or the troubles they experienced but Ben did mention in an article that he has worked on a few films with his wife and would have to be 'pulled' from his character to be present in his relationship and home life. As all couples pretty much have the same issues with varying degrees, ie. stubborness, selfishness, controlling, one sided, argumentative, degrading, never present etc, this story is a tale as old as time. You fail to look within and work on yourself and the relationship and end up splitting from your partner.

Although Ben and Christine split in 2017, they never filed divorce papers, sitting in the separation. Four years later covid hits and everyone is forced to hunker down and have less and less distractions. Ben and Christine decide to live in the same house in New York during covid making it easier for the kids to be all under one roof and it wasn't for a year after that, that the couple start to revisit their marriage.

They say covid was the reason for so many breakups and divorces. Why? Well, when you're forced to stay put, not travel, not be distracted in life as many people do, you reflect on your life, you see if you and your partner actually get along or enjoy each other's company. A big part of life is distractions, which can make you feel as though you don't need to address certain aspects of your life, you keep running. Well covid put a stop to that. We were all forced to live in the state of our lives, relationships and self. For some it brought them closer, for others it made them realize they no longer wanted the relationship.

For Ben and Christine, covid forced them under one roof and gave the an organic way to reconnect and realize they didn't want to get divorced and would give their union another try. An opportunity Ben says he never thought would happen. He couldn't see how they would get back together. There was a part of him deep inside that didn't want the separation but sometimes we ignore the feeling out of ego or spite or unwillingness to do the work. Since so many years had passed, they both had time to self reflect and realize they rather work on their differences and make their union work then give up on it. During their separation, Ben looked to his parents as inspiration on how to stay together and make it work.

I personally, was so happy to see this couple back together. I remember reading the headline of their split and thought what a shame! They make such a great couple and they act so well together. So when I saw they reconnected during covid, it felt right and I'm glad they took the opportunity to work it out.

Would they be back if covid didn't happen? Probably not. I think he'd say the same. Ben states he doesn't even know how it happened but that they both wanted it and covid gave them the opportunity to explore that. People allow their unwillingness to be raw and honest to deter a whole life path which is crazy when you think about it.

I think the forcing of people to be under the same roof and talk and talk is the reason this relationship was able to repair. I also think it's why the reality show 'Love is Blind' is such a good relationship builder. You are forced to be in a space with another person and really get to know them. The easy out option is not always conducive to what is needed to get to a deeper level and why dating is not working out for so many these days. The fight or flight mentality people have today just doesn't leave room for natural organic growth.

We're happy for this couple and not all couples should get back together but these two surely are the ones that should've.

Happy Valentine's Month

Salty Sunshine Podcast

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