“Some things just go better together and probably always will
Like a cup of coffee and a sunrise, Sunday drives and time to kill
What’s the point of this ol’ guitar if it ain’t got no strings?
Or pourin’ your heart into a song that you ain’t gonna sing?
It’s a match made up in heaven, like good ol’ boys and beer
And me, as long as you’re right here”
- Luke Combs, Better Together
What do Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Finneas and Ashe, and bluegills and aquatic plants have in common? Some things just work better together. Whether it’s people, ideas, or even species in nature, partnerships can create something special—something that wouldn’t exist alone.
Together, Mahomes and Kelce have completed 760 receptions, over 9,000 yards, 72 touchdowns, and won three Superbowls. In fact, they hold the NFL record for the most postseason touchdowns by a quarterback-receiver duo (19). Their connection shows what happens when skill meets trust — two players reading the game, and each other, almost instinctively.
In music, Finneas and Ashe each have their own creative paths, but this fall they teamed up to form a new band called The Favors. The sound they’ve created together is fresh yet nostalgic, evoking the harmonies and warmth of Fleetwood Mac. It’s something entirely different than what either had made alone—and if you haven’t listened yet, I highly recommend it! Collaboration in art often sparks something that stretches creative boundaries in ways solo work can’t.
Even in nature, teamwork thrives. Bluegills use dense beds of aquatic plants like coontail or pondweed for shelter and nesting sites, protecting their young from predators. In return, their movement stirs up nutrients in the sediment, making them more available to the plants. Both benefit—a quiet, natural partnership that keeps the lake ecosystem in balance.
I’ve seen this same kind of magic in my own work. When people with different perspectives come together, something clicks—ideas grow in ways they never would have if I were working alone. Honestly, it’s my favorite part of what I do, and I’m continually chasing that spark. I could sit at my desk and write a watershed plan by myself, but when we bring in local voices—farmers, county staff, lake association members—it becomes something deeper: a shared vision for the landscape, lakes, and rivers we all care about.
We see these patterns everywhere in sports, music, work, and the natural world. When the right elements come together, the result is greater than the sum of its parts.
So maybe it’s worth asking—who or what brings out the best in you?
Moriya Rufer is a lake biologist with 20 years experience working with and loving lakes in northern Minnesota.
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