'40 Days of Dating:' Jessica Walsh & Timothy Goodman on What They Learned from Dating Each Other [EXCLUSIVE]
As Jessica Walsh and Timothy Goodman of 40 Days of Dating gear-up to reveal the fate of their relationship over the last four dates, starting Sept. 3, Enstars spoke to the duo about what they learned from the experiment.
Walsh recently confirmed that the duo will indeed be resuming posts on Sept. 3 and the last post will go up on Sept. 6. They will follow through with their commitment by disclosing the details of their last four dates, which took place between April 26 to April 30.
The dating experience has been both exhilirating and trying for the couple, but it allowed them to really self-evaluate themselves.
"It was difficult," Goodman said. "But it was incredibly rewarding as it gave us the tools to understand how to potentially change and see ourselves in a different light."
The couple endured the rough patches and revelled in the moments of true companionship, to see their relationship through 40 days. Most importantly, the experiment allowed the duo to address their individual insecurities when it came to relationships.
"For [Jessica], she had to deal with some uncertainty because I wasn't going to give it all to her. On my end, I had to let a woman into my life and it had been a long time since I had done something like that, so I had to let that emotional intimacy in," Goodman said. "So those are pretty profound things for both of us, and I think we are both forever changed because of it."
Walsh contemplated quitting the project about two weeks in, suggesting that she couldn't keep up with the pace of the experiment and what it demanded of their busy schedules.
"I learned that I need to take take care of myself. I was taking on too many commitments between work, traveling, teaching, and lecturing, and for a while I was constantly stressed out," she said, via email. "In combination with health issues I had going on (chronic headaches and insomnia), this experiment sent me over the edge stress wise and forced me to reevaluate my lifestyle."
After the experiment Walsh started to take time for herself every day and uses it for more relaxing activities like going for a run, practicing yoga, or simply hanging out with friends. She said it made her much more relaxed and happier, and that has had a huge positive effect on all of the relationships in her life. She also overcame her fear of uncertainty, especially when it comes to relationships. Walsh used to be very focussed on the future but this experience taught her to "let go" in a way.
"When you let go of expectations, it positively effects your relationships as well," she said.
As part of the rules for dating, Walsh and Goodman saw a couple's therapist once a week. Walsh suggested that it really helped them assess their roles in a relationship.
"Through the therapy in the experiment, we explored our pasts and how they connect to our current relationship styles. It challenged us to come to confront some issues that we both had long swept under the rug. And because of that, it has allowed us to rethink the way we approach and handle relationships moving forward, and make changes on a personal level as well," she said.
Check back for our on-going interview series with the pair, as they spill more secrets about 40 Days of Dating.
