The Power of Connection Beyond Romance
We live in a world that told me to wait for “the one.”
The one who would sweep me off my feet. The one who would make me feel whole. The one who would walk beside me through life’s inevitable challenges.
But what if “the one” has been by my side all along — sending check-in texts, holding my hand in the hard moments, making me laugh until my sides ache?
What if platonic love is not second best, but something sacred, powerful, and profoundly undervalued?
A Friendship That Changed Everything
I wouldn’t have the life I lead today—this joyful, expansive life—without my friend who reached out when my six-year relationship ended last August.
Ready for a little story time?
Picture this: There I was, fresh out of a relationship that was both completely unexpected and somehow totally inevitable. Life plan? Shattered. Future? Suddenly, a blank canvas. But here’s where it gets good…
Ring ring! My friend – also navigating the choppy waters of breakup-land – was in Brazil. One wine-fuelled phone call later, and there I was, landing in Rio with nothing but hope and an overpriced last-minute ticket. What followed was pure magic.
For one glorious week, we did it all. We vented on beautiful beaches, danced until sunrise, ugly-cried over caipirinhas, and laughed until our faces hurt. But the real gift? Being with someone who just got it. No judgment when feelings contradicted themselves (hello relief, meet guilt), no pressure to “be over it,” just pure understanding.
Let’s be real – did one week in Rio heal everything? If only! But it gave me something even better: permission to dream again. For the first time in forever, I could imagine a future that was entirely mine. No compromises, no “what about your partner,” just pure, unfiltered possibility.
This right here? The Rebound Collective? It’s my love letter to that moment and that friendship.
Redefining Meaningful Connection
At The Rebound Collective, I believe that platonic love — friendship, chosen family, community — is a radical form of healing in a culture that tells us romantic love is the only story worth telling.
It’s radical to centre friendships as core to your wellbeing when every film, song, and advertisement suggests that romantic partnership is the ultimate achievement.
It’s radical to show up for people without needing anything in return in a world that increasingly views relationships as transactions.
It’s radical to say, “You matter deeply to me,” even when there’s no romance involved, in a society that often struggles to recognise intimacy outside of romantic contexts.
Learning to Rely on Friends
Learning to rely on my friends has been the most significant growth I’ve experienced this year. It wasn’t easy at first—vulnerability rarely is. I had to unlearn the idea that independence meant handling everything alone. I had to practice asking for help, for company, for the specific kind of support I needed.
This matters because so many of us carry what I might call a togetherness deficit — the quiet ache that emerges when we feel disconnected or isolated, especially after significant life changes.
When we navigate heartbreak, divorce, career upheaval, or personal transformation, it’s often not a romantic partner who carries us through. It’s our friends. The ones who sit with us in silence when words feel inadequate. Who remind us who we are when we’ve temporarily forgotten. Who show up — again and again — just because they care.
One community member recently shared:
“After my divorce, I was convinced I’d lost my person. What I discovered instead was that I had many people — friends who showed up in ways I never expected. My Tuesday morning coffee friend who never missed a week. My neighbor who invited me for dinner every Thursday. My old university roommate who called regularly just to check in. Together, they created a constellation of support that no single relationship could have provided.”
Creating Space for Authentic Connection
This is why I created The Rebound Collective just weeks after my own breakup in September — to build spaces where these connections can flourish naturally. Where conversations move beyond small talk into the terrain of authentic exchange. Where your story, whatever it contains, can be shared without judgment.
Our creative workshops, social gatherings, and thoughtfully designed events offer more than momentary distraction. They provide opportunities to discover new aspects of yourself alongside others doing the same. To find belonging not in spite of your experiences, but because of the depth and perspective they’ve given you.
A New Narrative of Wholeness
It’s time we stop treating friendship like a placeholder for “real” love. Platonic love is real love.
Let’s celebrate it. Let’s prioritize it. Let’s build spaces where it can flourish.
Perhaps it’s time we reimagine what it means to be “whole.” What if completeness isn’t found in a single relationship but in the rich tapestry of connections we weave throughout our lives?
The Radical Act of Coming Together
This is what The Rebound Collective is all about. Not just healing but reconnecting. Not just surviving but building a life that centres joy, support, and belonging.
Together.
Because the most revolutionary act might not be finding “the one” after all. It might be recognising that we’ve always been surrounded by “the many” — and opening ourselves to the transformative power of these connections.
I know it’s transformed my life. I believe it can transform yours too.
Join Us
I host regular events in Sheffield and Manchester designed to foster meaningful connection and creative expression.
About the Author
Mariana founded The Rebound Collective in September 2024, just weeks after experiencing their own transformative breakup. Drawing on their personal journey of rediscovery and the profound impact of friendship, they create inclusive spaces for others navigating similar transitions. With a passion for authentic connection and community building, Mariana designs experiences that help people rediscover joy, creativity, and belonging beyond romantic relationships. Based in Sheffield, they split their time between hosting events, exploring creative pursuits, and nurturing their own circle of meaningful friendships. Connect with Mariana and The Rebound Collective at upcoming events in Sheffield and Manchester.
