Victories are Sweet

We were a house divided this weekend.

I'm a Vanderbilt fan (Yes, I purposely torture myself with near heart attacks and heartbreak week after week and have for years) and my husband is a die-hard Georgia fan (We have a dog named Herschel Walker, after all).

So this is the one game of the season that I love to watch with him even though I usually end up disappointed and taking all sorts of jabs because, well, there's no guarantee which Vanderbilt team might show up to play.

Not this week.

It was a beautiful win for my Commodores, and I was able to send my nephew all sorts of messages sharing my joy and relishing in his disappointment for just a few minutes, much like he gets to do most years.

And my husband was even a gracious Georgia fan, wishing that his team had won, but most of all, was happy I was happy today. #Wow #ThatOnlyTook10YearsofMarriage #HashtagsSayAllSortsOfThingsDon'tThey?

It got me thinking, though. In relationships, is it more important that YOU win? Or is there satisfaction in seeing the joy your partner is experiencing in the moment of their victory? This weekend, my husband showed me he is fully capable of sharing in my joy even in the midst of his own disappointment. (I'm giving him a ton of credit here. He already knows Georgia's shot at the SEC East or National Championship game are long gone!) But, I'm not letting this moment go by without recognizing the selflessness in the gesture. Because it's there.

And it's a good reminder. It's not always about the winning. Sometimes, it's about bowing out and stepping aside even at the expense of your own joy. Because ultimately, when you love someone, their happiness is also your happiness. That doesn't mean that your happiness has to depend on this other person; they aren't responsible for your joy, that's a tough burden to carry. But why not maximize the happiness and joy you get to experience by basking in the joys and happiness of those around you?

It's contagious.

Go Dores!

See? Everyone loves to see the Commodores win one now and again! Even Georgia's Coach, Mark Richt!