Sacrifice

I had to take a few days to get my thoughts organized on this topic. It is a huge one for me and a huge one for all of mankind really. It covers so many facets of life, and not just on the religious level. No matter your type of personality or lifestyle, instances of sacrifices are bound to present before you. It can either be sacrificing your time to pick someone up, your sandwich to a homeless person, or your life to protect the ones around you. I'm basically saying that no matter what you will sacrifice something in your life. I believe it is the amount that you sacrifice and the goals that it meets that really define a man.

Whenever I start out new Drum Majors (marching band stuff) one of the first things I make sure they understand that in order for them to be successful is to be sacrificial. They must sacrifice their "everything" in order to help their band succeed. I firmly believe Drum Majors are always the first to arrive, and the last to leave. Even though you are technically the leader of the band, you do everything in your power to make sure no one falls. You follow them to support them, to carry them when they need it. You make sure you use every fiber of your being to make sure no one is left behind. You have to sacrifice yourself to make them reach their goals.

I used to be one of those types of people that only looked out for themselves. The type of life I lived, I guess I needed to be like that to protect myself until I could get out on my own. I am extremely grateful for all that I had in my young life, but there were events that just pushed me into a state of "every man for himself." I was popular, but a loner at the same time. I did not understand that I actually needed the help of others.

I have learned the past few years that it is no longer all about me. I have learned recently that it will never be all about me. It is about the people around me. I went through some really hard times, and will continue to go through hard times, but it cannot derail me from giving my entire being to help and protect the people around me.

I currently face hatred right now (as does everyone else, it is humanity). But even through that hatred I know that I have to be there to sacrifice if the moment warrants it. We have the opportunity to choose how we sacrifice, but I am slowly learning that I do not need to choose. I must sacrifice the same for the person that loves me the most and the person that hates me. It also applies to the person I love the most and the person that I hate the most.

I am working on myself to get to the point that no matter who it is, I will sacrifice. So you can hate me, not understand me, not know me, not be in my life, but I will still give up everything and anything I can to make sure you can actually live.

Nothing will change the person I want and need to be.