There is a common narrative that weaves through many romance novels. It’s the idea of a rich privileged Prince who meets a broke working-class girl that he transforms into a Princess. It’s the plot of the movie, Pretty Woman, and the fairy tale, Cinderella.

At the heart of the story is the moral that love saves us. It rescues the Prince from a predictable life and fulfills his yearning for more. It liberates the princess from poverty and a lifetime of not achieving her potential.

These love stories are so improbable that they have become the stuff of literary meet-cutes and movie franchises. But do they happen in real life?

Bridge to Different Worlds

When you hear of an implausible love story, it’s often attributed to attraction and love. I wrote about this in a previous article.

But often downplayed is the fortuitous role of Providence. I will explain.

Providence and Location

I recall reading a novel about a rich heir to a hotel empire who fell in love with one of the chain’s housekeepers. They met in a bar.

This is the first act of Providence – a neutral location. In this instance, the guy saw a well-dressed, witty and beautiful babe who could carry on a conversation. (We’ll call her Jenny.) He didn’t see a “housekeeper,” and to be candid, if he had met her cleaning his room, the dynamics would have been different. He would have politely said hello and moved on.

In her case, she met a handsome, funny dude. (Let’s call him Mark.) Again, if they had met in his hotel, it would have been improper for Jenny to engage him in an informal conversation, as he was technically her boss.

Providence and Values

The second act of Providence was value. At first sight, Jenny presumed Mark was a spoilt rich kid because of the way he was dressed and the self-assured way he approached her. But as she engaged him, she realized he had a kind streak.

On Mark’s part, he was just looking to score with a pretty lady but discovered that Jenny was not only intelligent but was extremely hard-working. She was in business school while working a tedious job.

Mark got his kindness from the years he had spent being close to his grandmother; something his brothers weren’t privileged to have. Jenny had ambition and aspired for more than her family’s station in life. Together, those values created a bridge between them.

Providence and Bridges

The final act of Providence was a pathway for two vastly different worlds and income brackets to come together. A bridge, if you will.

Because of the unique combination of Jenny’s business school training and hands-on experience working in Mark’s hotel, she was a perfect fit for a new service initiative his hotel was rolling out. She not only understood the problems, she already had solutions that she had been documenting.

In Mark’s case, he had a family that was accepting of his independent relationship choices. He even had a brother who had previously married a working-class girl and was very happy.

Without this bridge, Mark and Jenny wouldn’t have had a practical route into each other’s worlds.

What We Can Learn

Some situations seem impossible and some paths unattainable, but what is required is a bridge. Carefully look for this. Perhaps, Providence has already placed one in your way.

Thank you for reading.

PS: My Mastermind Groups are mentoring platforms where I help rising stars navigate generational wealth and build business legacies!

For more, please read May You Find Love

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