The Infinite Resource (3 Min Read) | Vol. 136

January  31, 2025

“Love is not a pie.” – Amy Bloom

The Infinite Resource

I once attended a talk by author Bob Beaudine where he created an unforgettable moment. Early in his presentation, he asked everyone in the audience to pull out their phones. But instead of telling us to silence them, he did the opposite.

“Take your phones off silent,” he said. A murmur rippled through the room—this wasn’t the usual drill. Then he told us to think of someone we cared about and open a new text message to them. He instructed us to write: “I was just thinking about you and wanted to let you know, I love you.” He was very clear. You couldn’t write, “I love you, man” or, “love ya’!”  There was some nervous laughter. An undercurrent of anxiousness swept through the room. It’s not normal to tell someone you love them out of nowhere. Right? 

Finally, he asked us to count down from three and hit send. 3-2-1. Whoosh! The sound of hundreds of outgoing texts filled the room. Then, silence as we all stared at our phones. Soon, the tri-tone “boo-dah-lings” of incoming text messages pinged through the space. The energy shifted. People started smiling and laughing. There were more than a few joyful tears. 

It may not be normal to randomly tell someone you love them, but it is unexpectedly welcome. 

Last summer, I decided to revisit this idea and start telling the people I care for how I felt about them. It felt awkward and scary at first. I was worried someone might be offended. That’s not how it went. Most people were just surprised. They’d blink a few times and come in for a hug, adding, “I love you, too.” 

My opening quote from Amy Bloom, “Love is not a pie,” is a simple truth baked in metaphor. Love is not finite. If you give a slice to one person, you have no less to give the next person. A parent’s love for their firstborn doesn’t shrink when a second child arrives. Friendships don’t displace each other—they enrich each other.

Love doesn’t diminish when divided. It multiplies. Love is not a pie, nor a ledger, nor a zero-sum game. The more love you give, the more connected you become. I dare you to take out your phone. Think of someone you care about. 3-2-1. Whoosh! 

One question to ponder in your thinking time: Who doesn’t know you love them? 

Make an Impact!
Jay Papasan
Co-author of The ONE Thing & The Millionaire Real Estate Agent