A major survey of 127,545 American adults found that married men are healthier than men who were never married or whose marriages ended in divorce or widowhood. Men who have marital partners also live longer than men without spouses. The study also found that the longer a man stays married, the greater his longevity in comparison to his unmarried peers.

While this study reveals marriage to be a men’s health and longevity advantage, many do not want to invest the time that a long-term relationship takes. We live in a culture where everything is quick and disposable, including relationships. This does not build depth, character or intimacy.

In order to stop avoiding the issues and to really grow, we do need to be in a relationship where there is emotional safety. Men need to know that they can share who they are without being attacked. It is important to see and to be seen—to know the spark of the divine within.

Intimacy is a commitment over time to a durable, safe, passionate, open-hearted relationship as a spiritual path. The male and female energies become one and are complementary. The key to intimacy is “enduring over time” and creating a safe space for people to move into the unknown and, in essence, to face their angels and demons in the process of relationship. We are talking about more than merely longevity. We are talking about tuning into the truth of who we are.

Gabriel Cousens is the founder and director of Tree of Life Foundation and Tree of Life Center US. He is considered one of the leading live-food vegan medical doctors, holistic physicians and the world expert on spiritual nutrition. Connect at 520-394-2520 x2225, email [email protected] or visit TreeOfLifeCenterUS.com. See ad, page 24.