guys... i have a girlfriend

Johnson argues that many people are too quick to leave relationships when they don't feel an immediate deep commitment. He advocates instead for persistent searching and, once in a relationship, for committed investment and maturing the bond. He frames this as a way to avoid wasting the limited resource of conscious experience on something that does not produce joy. His own journey lasted his entire adult life, and he presents that as evidence that the hard work is worth it.

Johnson met Kate around five years ago and they became a couple three years ago. He calls her his 'other half,' explaining that their emotional states are fused—when she hurts, he hurts, and when he feels joy, she feels joy. He anticipates a range of reactions from the public—joy, mocking, hate—but chose to share this to be a positive influence on others who are seeking or working on their own relationships. He notes that good relationships are rare, and growing up he struggled to find marriages he wanted to emulate.