It drives me crazy in movies and television shows when two people supposedly in love decide to separate to pursue their dreams. Usually they say something to the effect that they’ll come to resent one another if they sacrifice to stay together. 

Guess what? Love is the dream. Everything else is just mist in the wind. 

Today, people put a lot of emphasis on their careers, but how many of them would quit in a heartbeat if they won the lottery? Is money really worth more than love?

“Life is a flower of which love is the honey.”—Victor Hugo.

In my second novel, The Fisherman’s Wife, Sarah teaches her daughter-in-law, Laura, an important principle of love when the tough challenges Laura faces start to impact her husband significantly: 

“But I hate being so needy, and I worry about dragging him down and ruining his life. Sooner or later he’ll start to resent all the sacrifices, won’t he?” [Laura said]

“I’ll tell you a little secret that most people don’t understand,” Sarah stroked Laura’s hair back again. “My father taught me this principle years ago. You love what you serve and sacrifice for. The more you invest in someone or something, the more you come to love them. You don’t resent them. Every sacrifice he makes for you is binding him closer to you. I worry about this rift between you, though. Sometimes adversity tears people apart, but never the loving sacrifices.”

When you lose yourself in the service of another human being, it’s almost impossible to hate them. What would the world be like if fewer of us took a stand and used our energy to lift others instead? How would things change if we championed the causes of other people instead of our own? If we listened instead of arguing?

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”—Maya Angelou.

In the end, our other big dreams matter very little. Someday we will all retire from our jobs, and the achievements of the next generation will eclipse whatever glorious thing we accomplished. The only real legacy most of us will leave will be the investment we made in others. 

“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”—Albert Einstein.

Love is the only currency accepted to buy ultimate happiness. If you’re willing to pay the price for the ticket, you can win the lottery of love every time.