What Would You Sacrifice?

sacrifice.jpg courtesy of despair 

“A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse,” Shakespeare.

In Shakespeare’s Richard III the title character, King Richard, in desperation after his horse was slain in battle, begged for a horse so that he can escape from his enemies. He then uttered the famous line written above.

Have you been in a state of desperation before that  you were willing to give up anything just so you can have what you need or want? When you were in a bind how often have you said, “what I wouldn’t give for a…” But do we really mean it? Or better yet, would we ever mean it?

Say for instance one of your love one, your parent, husband, sibling, or your child, is terminally ill. You are propositioned that if you give your own life your love one will live a long, healthy, and happy life. Would you do it?

Of course it is very easy to ask and respond to hypothetical scenarios. But for some people, making difficult choices and personal sacrifices is the norm. Some give up their career to care for their children. Some sacrifice their social life to take care of an aging parent. Some leave their homeland so that they can provide a better future for their family. And some give their life for their country.

While a career and life is definitely more valuable than a horse, Shakespeare had illustrated that there’s no limit to what any of us will sacrifice just so we can have what we need. For King Richard, a horse, as trivial as it may seem, is what he needed at that moment and therefore his kingdom is a fitting price to pay because without the horse, his approaching enemies will certainly make sure that he will lose his kingdom.

So in desperation or out of necessity, trivial objects like a horse or a can opener can be a life saver. If these inconsequential things can be that important at any given situation, we should then be mindful of the context of each other’s choices and sacrifices before we pass judgment.

Like Shakespeare, I believe that there’s no limit to what we would sacrifice in order to attain what we desperately need. What about you? Is there a limit to your sacrifice?

 

 

 

 

Posted July 7, 2008 by Wat Da Daddy | Digg | Stumble | 16 Wat Da Comments

  1. ilinap Said,

    I think that we are all selfish beings at the heart of our DNA and instictively. This stems from centuries of fending for ourselves for mere survival. Parenthood somehow changes that paradigm, making us protectors. I don’t think there’s anything I wouldn’t sacrifice for my kids.

  1. RC Said,

    This is a tough question to answer, since I think sacrifice changes in each scenario. I say this as one of my careers is as a firefighter. Sometimes there are times when I don’t see it as sacrifice/risk - it is just doing what needed to be done at that time.

    And now as a mom, there are things that I have on my “list of dreams,” which I won’t be doing, as it isn’t worth leaving my son without a mother, if things were to suddenly go wrong. (Yes, the career as a firefighter and a mom, do conflict, somewhat, for this reason.)

    There are things I would like to do right now, for selfish reasons, and I find myself just staying in the status quo, as it is what offers stability and provides for our little family.

    Like Ilinap said, parenthood has shifted the paradigm, and now my sacrifices are for him, and less about what I need or want.

    RCs last blog post..Don’t monkey with my monkey…

  1. Becky Said,

    When it comes to my family, there’s very little I wouldn’t sacrifice.

    Beckys last blog post..Move Over D’Onofrio

  1. Urban Panther Said,

    The black and white of giving up my life for someone else, I certainly consider a sacrifice. Would I do that for my children? Without even thinking. But for other examples, such as aging parents, child rearing, etc, is it sacrificing or is it postponing? Or taking another path? Perhaps one that in the end is more of an adventure than the path you were on. And if you become wiser and more empathetic to your fellow humans because of that detour, then I don’t think it was a sacrifice. More like a gift of learning…perhaps a tough gift to accept and process…but a gift all the same.

  1. Robin Said,

    Well this is a tricky one, Chris! In my opinion it all boils down to where the person is coming from - if they are following their inner guidance (intuition), it either doesn’t really feel like a sacrifice (e.g. giving up something to do something for somebody) or it feels “on track” (giving up an income to stay home and practice music).

    I think that when people feel resentful about the sacrifices they are making, their decision to sacrifice is coming from the ego—the term “noble sacrifice” has a lot to answer for—and they are not really helping mankind in any way e.g. people who are puffed up with pride about their sacrifices, when really they are copping out of something (which may be something as simple as looking for ways of making their life easier).

    Robins last blog post..Gratitude and Miracles

  1. Sandy (Momisodes) Said,

    “If these inconsequential things can be that important at any given situation, we should then be mindful of the context of each other’s choices and sacrifices before we pass judgment.” - Very well said.

    For my family, my child, I would sacrifice. Needs are constantly changing in our lives. I try to take it 1 day at a time…

    Sandy (Momisodes)s last blog post..Let’s Get It On…FAB!!!

  1. Kelly@SHE-POWER Said,

    I would sacrifice anything and everything for my son. I think that goes with parenting. I actually don’t agree with Robin that if you experience feelings of resentment about your sacrifices that they were made from ego and are therefore somehow lesser than.

    Sometimes the needs of your family will collide with your individual needs, and personal sacrifices may need to be made for the greater good of the family unit. Just because you make them doesn’t mean it’s easy to live with them. Struggling at times with your sacrifices is natural and does not mean the decision was the wrong one.

    I always knew I wanted to have a child and I assumed that when the time came I would become this instant grown up. I’d want to do all the things good mommies do. But what I found was I was still just me. That free spirited chick who hates predictability, suburban life, conversations about home renovations and mortgage rates. The girl who loves inner city life, travelling and dancing ’till dawn is alive and well but now she’s someone’s mom.

    So yes, I have made sacrifices since I had my son and I do not regret them, even if I still sometimes struggle with them. Having Bunny meant buying a house, giving up my regular house moves, leaving the city for more space and affordable housing and changing my career to one that will allow me to have an active role in his life.

    These sacrifices may seem nothing to others who naturally want this kind of stable life, but for me they have meant a total life change and I have had to try and grow into this role while still holding on to some semblance of the old me. As Sandy said, this is achieved by taking it one day at a time.

    Thought provoking post.

    Kelly

    Kelly@SHE-POWERs last blog post..Post Holiday Blues?

  1. Wat Da Daddy Said,

    @ilinap– You would think that was the case, with parents sacrificing everything for their children, unfortunately I have seen how some parents have no regrad for their chidlren’s welfare.

    @RC– Yes, I too decided to stay within the status quo in order to porvide stability for my children. But, this doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on my dreams…As it stands right now, I’m slowly but surely working my way through all of them.

    @Becky– Me too!

    @Urban Panther– Thank you for your wisdom. I’ve never really looked at it the way you put it…

    @Robin– My notion of sacrifice is going against the normal grain of your being or what’s expected. I believe that it’s intuitive for a fire fighter to rush into a burning building, does this mean that they are not sacrificing their life? I could say the same thing for a police officer or a soldier, or even a person who is naturally altruistic, will their sacrifices count any less? Good stuff Robin, thanks.

    @Sandy– It’s difficult to see the initial pay off when your sacrifice takes and enduring quality. But I can assure you that when the reward finally comes, it’s the best thing in the world…

    @Kelly– My wife and I took a similar path. I too never saw myself moving out of the city and having a home in the suburbs…But when you have children the equation totally changes because life is not all about you anymore, it’s about them…Like you I sometimes struggle with the sacrifices I made because of my family, but this doesn’t mean that if I were given a chance to do it over again, I would take a different path. On the contrary, I would make the same exact changes because I have seen the result of my choices and they are good. I think my wife and I did a pretty good job in providing a stable environment for the children. Then only problem now is that none of them want to move out of the house…LOL

  1. Bruno Said,

    thought provoking post this morning Chris - my mind is circling all over the place.

    Often times we put off making life altering decisions, especially ones that alter our life–a sacrifice for another family member is a sacrifice worth making. The truth is - nobody will ever know the journey you will travel until you travel it — After all said and done, the choice is yours to make and if the sacrifice is to bold for your current state of affairs then one should accept and respect that too.

    Brunos last blog post..Breaking Bad Habits

  1. Lance Said,

    Sacrifice - a tough thing to do. There was one time in my life that I can recall where I would have sacrificed everything. Our daughter (at the time she was about 4 years old) became lost in a large state park. There were about 15 minutes where I would have done anything to have found her (we did). At moments like that, there is really not much else that matters in life. It’s hard to say, for me, when I would really sacrifice everything until the moment presented itself (which I hope it doesn’t).

    Lances last blog post..And The Thunder Rolls

  1. Wat Da Daddy Said,

    @Bruno– Yes, planning the journey and envisioning it is not the same as going through it. The same thing with making sacrifice. You can talk all you want about what you will give up but the true test is when you are actually at the moment.

    @Lance– I had a similar situation a while back. Actually it happened to us twice. My 3rd child, when he was 10, decided to go to the park without telling anyone and my 2nd child when she was 12, decided to cool off, after arguing with her older brother, by walking outside in the middle of the night. We didn’t know where she was. Both incident happened when we lived in the city…Like you, those minutes not knowing where they were made everything unbearable…

  1. Storm Said,

    i think there is sacrifice and there is compromise. in both cases you are giving up something, for something you want more. sacrifice makes it sound like you do not get something you want more.
    in the case of king richard, he wanted his life more than his kingdom. to have his life, he needed a horse. the horse represents his life, no?

    when it comes to it, we often speak or act out of emotion. we all react differently under stress. who knows?

    in the case of caring for aging parents, it seems less like a sacrifice and more like returning the favour. they, like those of you who are parents now, gave up things for their kids. they gave up partying, dancing all night, careers, countries etc. as disney as it sounds, it is the circle of life.

    my two cents,

    storm

    Storms last blog post..your neighbourhood

  1. MizFit Said,

    not at all for my family.

    I constantly encourage my Renaissance Man that, if he’s not happy, he should look for a different gig.

    Id happily sell the domicile for a TINY one and scale back on EVERYTHING.

    for others? I fear I fall more in the compromise camp. not so much friends—-but in the general giving/volunteering realm.

    food for thought.

    Im fo’shizzle not selfless.

    travel safely!

  1. Kyddryn Said,

    I think it would depend on the circumstances. I know that I’ve given up a good deal for my family, without regret, and would do it again. I’ve never been placed in a position of having to trade my life or well being for that of another…and I hope I never will be, because I am venial enough to consider the options rather than lay down my own without thought. Bears thinking about.

    Shade and Sweetwater,
    K

    Kyddryns last blog post..Hmm.

  1. Barbara Swafford Said,

    I think it’s easy to say we would sacrifice it all for our loved ones, but until a situation presents itself, it’s hard to say how far we would actually go. Having made many sacrifices in my life, there are none that I regret. But they were all well thought out. I think it boils down to actions and consequences.

    Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Your Today Is My Tomorrow

  1. Sunil Pathak Said,

    Its easier said then done guys i will sacrifice every thing on paper but the really courage is when you do it rather then say it

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