Relationships can overcome obstacles with sacrifice

Calling all college ladies who love a good, sappy love story. “The Longest Ride” starring Scott Eastwood and Britt Robertson is now playing in theatres in Chadron.  “The Longest Ride” is a movie based on the bestselling novel by the one and only Nicholas Sparks. The story centers around two different love stories that intertwine with one another across time.

Former bull riding champion Luke (Eastwood) and college student Sophia (Robertson) fall in love briefly after meeting each other at a rodeo. Despite their love for one another they are both heading down conflicting paths that test their relationship. Luke, after being badly injured in a bull riding accident, wants to continue to ride bulls and work on the ranch, and Sophia is planning on moving to Manhattan after graduation to work in an art gallery.

The couple have an unexpected encounter with a man named Ira Levinson.  Ira is a man in his 90s who is reaching the end of his life.  During their time together throughout the movie Ira tells stories about his beloved wife, Ruth, and the love they shared for over 50 years.  Ira tells the young couple about the things that he and Ruth both had to sacrifice in order for their relationship to work. These stories inspire Luke and Sophia to reflect on their own love and determine what their future together will hold.

“The Longest Ride” can relate to a lot of romantic relationships, but I feel like it particularly relates to most relationships in college as couples reach graduation. Like Luke and Sophia, couples come to the point where they need to make the decision to chase their own dreams, stick together, or make sacrifices for each other. It might be hard, but making sacrifices for the people that you love is worth it.

So, whether you are trying to figure out your own post-college relationship or are just looking for a good chick flick “The Longest Ride” serves as a great reminder of what it means to sacrifice for the ones we love.

As Ira Levinson says in the movie “Love requires sacrifice.”