Jessica Walsh and Tim Goodwin, New York designers and friends of four years- decided to try a relationship experiment. Both were unlucky at love and when they found themselves single at the same time, they came up with a 40 day plan to date each other and see if their going through the motions of a dating relationship would help them each overcome their inadequacies and bad relationship habits and maybe even develop feelings for one another that were more than friendship. They knew they were risking their friendship so they came up with six rules to help them with boundaries and to avoid pitfalls- seeing each other daily, going on three dates a week, completing a daily questionnaire, seeing a couple’s therapist weekly, going on one weekend trip, and abstaining from all intimacy with others during the 40 days.
The experiment started in March 2013, and they established a website http://fortydaysofdating.com/ and began uploading their daily questionnaires in July. On the fifteenth day they had an argument that threatened to end the project, but they stayed with it, despite the stress. According to Jessica and Tim, the project has been very insightful and has helped both of them make positive changes in their lives. They recommend others try doing this for themselves.
The results of the experiment are being posted over time on their site- and even though much information has been shared- it’s not been revealed yet if they are still just friends or more. Check for their next posting on September 3rd.
