It’s hard to believe, but it’s been almost 10 years since Gwyneth Paltrow revealed that she and Chris Martin were separating, by referring to it as “conscious uncoupling.”

Over the weekend, Gwyneth said that she did NOT coin the phrase, but she’s HAPPY that it went viral, even if people made fun of her for it, because it helped loosen the seriousness of breakups and divorce.

She said, “It makes me feel pretty proud when people come up to me on the streets and say, ‘Thank you for introducing that concept because I’ve become good friends with my ex.'”

Gwyneth added that she believes that the term may “play a small part” in the recent cultural shift, where people can choose something other than just “being together” or “being apart.”

The idea that:  We’re not in a romantic relationship, but we’re a family.  And we like to do things to reinforce that we’re a family for the kids and for each other.

(It obviously won’t work for every couple.  But for those who CAN “consciously uncouple”, it gives them a way to communicate the situation to friends.  In a way that surely invites RIDICULE.)

 

(People)