Hey everyone! Ever wonder what truly makes a friendship last? After a recent holiday binge-watch of "Billions," I found myself deep in thought, not about high finance, but about the bonds between people. In this episode, I'm sharing my personal reflections on why shared hardships, more than just happy times, might be the secret ingredient to building truly deep and resilient connections, not just with friends, but with family and loved ones too. Join me as I explore why embracing challenges together can forge the most meaningful relationships and how I'm trying to disconnect from the digital world to find more authentic connections in my own life. 00:00:00 Intro & Holiday Break 00:01:36  My "Billions" Experience 00:03:13  The Real Takeaway: Friendship 00:04:38  Rethinking Friendship 00:06:55  My Fading Connection 00:10:30  A New Approach to Friendship 00:13:06  The Risks and Rewards of Shared Hardship 00:14:02  The Need for Deeper Connections 00:15:55  Reflections on Marriage and Modern Life 00:17:24  What l've Learned About Friendship 00:20:27  The Role of Colleagues in Friendship 00:23:10  My Ideal Friend: Smart and Kind 00:29:31 The Elusive Nature of Friendship 00:34:33 A Slower Pace 00:37:12 Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead Personal Blog: https://xing-j.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrYQCB9OBbW43V170uw-VTQ Patreon: https://patreon.com/xingj