For more than 85 years, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked thousands of people to answer a simple question: What actually makes a good life? The conclusion was clear and consistent:
Strong relationships are the biggest predictor of long-term happiness and health.
Not Income. Not achievements. Not status.
Researchers found that people with warm, stable social bonds:
- Lived longer
- Reported lower stress
- Recovered from illness faster
- Felt more fulfilled
Connection wasn't just a "nice-to-have" — it played a central role in physical and emotional wellbeing.
Staying close to the people who matter isn't about intensity. It's about consistency.
The study showed that even small, regular interactions maintain emotional closeness better than occasional big gestures.
Your garden makes those small moments visible. When you water a plant, you're nurturing a relationship— in exactly the steady, intentional way the Harvard researchers found most effective for wellbeing.
Healthy relationships = a healthier life. Your garden is a gentle reminder of that.
-henry