Why You Need a Friend From a Different Generation

As political polarization deepens this election cycle, where can America find hope?

The answer might lie with Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, George W. Bush, Michelle Obama, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg. These diverse personalities share a powerful connection that transcends background and industry: Intergenerational friendships.

The partnership between jazz legend Tony Bennett and pop icon Lady Gaga offers a poignant example of the power of intergenerational connections. Their collaboration, which began in 2011 and lasted until Bennett’s passing in 2023, not only produced critically acclaimed albums but also challenged public perceptions and celebrated the timelessness of art. Despite a six-decade age difference, their bond evolved into a deep friendship.

Similarly, the friendship between former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Michelle Obama stands out as a remarkable example of cross-generational connection. Despite an 18-year age gap and opposing political affiliations, their bond has flourished, becoming a symbol of bipartisanship in a polarized era. Both have spoken warmly of each other, with Obama calling Bush her “partner in crime” at official events. Their ability to connect on a personal level, sharing laughs and mutual respect despite their different backgrounds, powerfully demonstrates how intergenerational friendships can bridge divides and reveal our shared humanity, even in the complex world of politics.

Consider also the unlikely friendship between lifestyle guru Martha Stewart and rapper Snoop Dogg. Despite a 30-year age gap and vastly different backgrounds, their connection has grown into a genuine friendship and successful business partnership, demonstrating how intergenerational friendships can bridge not just age divides, but cultural and social ones as well.

While celebrity examples showcase the innovative, enterprising and philanthropic power of intergenerational friendships, such connections can be transformative for people from all walks of life, offering a unique approach to addressing the complex challenges facing our society. Indeed, a recent Harris Poll survey finds that 70% of American adults engage in such relationships. In the United States, we are currently grappling with a number of interrelated psychological, social and political challenges that are barriers to individual and societal flourishing. Intergenerational friendships might help with all of them.

Continue reading at The Houston Chronicle.