I teach fifth-grade social studies. Most of my students do not speak English as their first language, so I do crazy things every day to help them understand. During every school year, I take on a thousand personalities: Christopher Columbus, King George, Sacagawea, even president of the United States. It is fun but challenging, and I don’t know whether I could do it if I didn’t love my students as much as I do.
Robin Elms
Atlanta, Georgia

About 16 years ago, I dated this funny little British guy who stole my heart. But after only a month of dating, he told me very candidly that I shouldn’t get my hopes up, because he was sure we wouldn’t have a future together. On the other hand, he let me know that he was quite happy to continue dating. In that moment, I realized I had probably met one of the few truly honest souls on the planet. I reciprocated his honesty by telling him I wasn’t interested in a superficial relationship at that point in my life, and I politely showed him the door. After a week’s reflection, he decided that honesty and integrity are valuable commodities wherever you find them. The craziest thing I ever did for love was to show it the door when all I wanted to do was hang onto it. We’ve now been happily married for 15 years.
Kathleen Wood
Franklin, North Carolina

Twenty-four years ago, a friend gave me a button that reads "I love my wife." I put the button on and have worn it every day since. I never leave home without it, because it is a visual expression of just how much I really do love my wife. People sometimes think I’m crazy for wearing a bright yellow button on all my shirts. My wife used to think so too, but now she understands that my wearing it demonstrates how special she is to me.
John McCarthy
Manhattan Beach, California

I went into a mosh pit. I’m the most conservative concertgoer ever — my idea of wild is singing along when invited to do so by the artist. But my husband loves being right by the stage in a huge crowd at a punk concert, the louder the better. When his favorite band, MxPx, came to town, I agreed to go…and sure enough, we ended up right in the middle of the pit. I was decidedly out of my element, especially when people started crowd-surfing over my head! But my husband was ecstatic to have me there.
Sherrie Barber Willson
Grand Rapids, Michigan

My boyfriend and I were living 3 1/2 hours apart in Florida. We would usually take turns making the drive and visiting each other on the weekends. But once we were missing each other so much in the middle of the week that, after work, we decided we’d both drive an hour and 45 minutes and meet halfway for dinner. We had a picnic on the beach, snuggled and watched the stars for a while, then drove back to our homes in the middle of the night. I was exhausted the next day, but it was totally worth it.
Emily Malone
Durham, North Carolina

For my love of books, I left the beautiful South — and my family and friends — to take a publishing job in Colorado. Seafood, antebellum architecture, and mild weather are the obvious sacrifices. But there is something to be said for taking phone calls with my favorite authors while I stare at Pike’s Peak from my office.
Katie Schroder
Colorado Springs, Colorado

My boyfriend and I had been dating for only a month when Valentine’s Day came around. Before our date that day, I ran out and bought a Salwar kameez, an outfit from India (his native land). I arrived all dressed up; he was amazed I would go out of my way to do that. Three years later, we have been happily married for over a year and a half.
Meredith Tummeti
Bellflower, California

After a series of “passionate and nutty” romances in which I would always put the other person’s needs before mine, I realized that no relationship can survive with that much intensity or manipulation. By putting myself first and remembering that I was just fine on my own, I allowed a new relationship to blossom in ways I had never experienced. The love we share is healthy, supportive, and going strong. Being an individual is the best gift anyone can bring to a relationship, romantic or otherwise.
Gregg McBride
Los Angeles, California

I attended a wrestling match. It was tedious to watch (until the Rock came out, anyway), but I owed it to my boyfriend of 10 wonderful years, who had gone to a Britney Spears concert for me.
Tiffany Chu
San Francisco, California

I was living in New York City, and my boyfriend was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Every time he visited, he would insist that we go to the Stage Deli for a corned-beef sandwich. The day before our second anniversary, I darted across town during my break to get one of these deli delights. Back in my office, I packed the sandwich into a cooler with ice packs and shipped it to Wyoming. His coworkers were so curious, they stood over him as he opened it. He later told me that when he saw what it was, a tear came to his eye. Though he was a little embarrassed, it meant a lot to him. He proposed three months later. Never underestimate the power of choice deli meat.
Megan Jenkins
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

When my husband and I were dating, he was living at home. He refused to let me see his house or meet his mother — he was afraid they would scare me off. So to check out my boyfriend’s mother, I purchased a floral arrangement and had my friend pose as a delivery person while I hid in the bushes. I got to see and hear clearly my future mother-in-law. She wasn’t so scary.
Judy McDermott
Springfield, Pennsylvania