I feel like the true meaning of this word is lost on military cliches, chess strategies, and murmurs of ancient Aztec rituals. There is something more.
This definition, taken verbatim from the dictionary reads, "The surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim." Even though this is an accurate description of the word, It lacks something. It is rather impersonal; it lacks intimacy, passion and heart. It rightly describes the action, but isn't descriptive enough of the one making the sacrifice.
The act of sacrifice is an act of love. Giving up something desired or loved in return for a greater love, a better future, or sometimes...nothing. Sometimes sacrifice is about preparing for your own future, but sometimes sacrifice is about making sure the ones you love will be taken care of, even if they never know the deeds that were done. True, this is a worthy cause of "pressing claim", but it has nothing to do with the person making the sacrifice. It is a sacrifice wherin the reward is gained by another at the cost of oneself. A reward that might even be rejected or misunderstood. This is true love.
Some children will never understand the things that their parents who love them do for them. The hours they work, the cut-backs they make, the time they commit. Some friends will never know the things that their friends did for them. They will never know the selfless acts that were done with no thought of reward or even recognition for their deeds. Acts which tore their heart as they were done, but were done whole-heartedly nonehteless. They will sometimes not understand, and sometimes not even know.
True sacrifice is about the sacrificer making sure that the person they love can have the best life possible. Sacrifice doesn't always have a personal reward, sometimes it is truly selfless. But who looks after those who sacrifice something prized, something loved so much, for the well-being of those they care about?
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Competitiveness
One thing that I have noticed after twenty two years of life, is that males are very competitive. Some are more passive in their competitiveness, but for the most part, every guy is willing to step up to protect their dignity--some perhaps too aggressively.
When looking back on some moments in my life--my friends and I have argued over the stupidest things. "I am older than you, I am taller than you, I can play this video game better than you, I ate more than you, I am sicker than you are, I can run faster than you, I can jump higher than you..." The list goes on. After I proved all of them wrong, there was nothing for my friends to do except argue with me more, and make excuses about why they would be better. Obviously, the fact that they hurt their ankle, or they had a headache, or they had just eaten an hour ago made the competition unfair.
Sure, there is a healthy amount of competition that makes life interesting. When I play games or sports with friends who don't actually try, it is boring! When we win at something, our brain releases chemicles that make us feel good about ourselves. When you know in the back of your mind that your win was a fluke, you don't get those good chemical-y feelings. However, there is also such a thing as too competitive. When you are willing to break rules, hurt feelings, and physically hurt your friends just to assert your dominance over them, a step needs to be taken back and a deep breath taken.
I saw some animal in myself tonight, and I was rather shocked. I'm not exactly one of the super-aggressive people who will stop at nothing just to win. Yes, I am very competitive, but I'm pretty good at knowing where to draw the line. Some friends wanted to box, and I, being the intelligent, cool-headed one of the group, declined the invitation of a bloody nose, fat lip, and sore jaw. I did, however, show up just to watch the fights, and get some social interaction and entertainment. Five minutes after showing up, some jeers and name calling from my peers forced me to take action. I found myself in the ring with a pair of gloves on my hands, taking full advantage of my friends' faces.
Sure, some very unlucky things would have had to happen for someone to get extremely hurt, but after landing quite a few good hits on someone's face who was a little bit smaller than me, I didn't feel too good about myself. He challenged me whole-heartedly, and definitely wouldn't have given me any grace, but I still felt bad. Even after beating someone else who had a significant weight advantage on me, I still felt bad because he wasn't someone who I would normally fight with or even want to hit. We just found ourselves together in the ring, at odds with each other, and our animalistic natures took over.
What drives people to be so competitive over the smallest things? In a few words--people want other people to like them. Guys want girls to notice how good they are at physical things because that means they make good gene mixers, and guys want other guys to see how good they are at everything because then they can assert their alpha male dominance. People want to be noticed and for others to see that they are worth something. It is good to have talents and be better at some things than others, but think about it--what good is arguing over something that doesn't matter in the long run? Try competing about things that matter; it makes you feel a lot better about yourself when you win.
When looking back on some moments in my life--my friends and I have argued over the stupidest things. "I am older than you, I am taller than you, I can play this video game better than you, I ate more than you, I am sicker than you are, I can run faster than you, I can jump higher than you..." The list goes on. After I proved all of them wrong, there was nothing for my friends to do except argue with me more, and make excuses about why they would be better. Obviously, the fact that they hurt their ankle, or they had a headache, or they had just eaten an hour ago made the competition unfair.
Sure, there is a healthy amount of competition that makes life interesting. When I play games or sports with friends who don't actually try, it is boring! When we win at something, our brain releases chemicles that make us feel good about ourselves. When you know in the back of your mind that your win was a fluke, you don't get those good chemical-y feelings. However, there is also such a thing as too competitive. When you are willing to break rules, hurt feelings, and physically hurt your friends just to assert your dominance over them, a step needs to be taken back and a deep breath taken.
I saw some animal in myself tonight, and I was rather shocked. I'm not exactly one of the super-aggressive people who will stop at nothing just to win. Yes, I am very competitive, but I'm pretty good at knowing where to draw the line. Some friends wanted to box, and I, being the intelligent, cool-headed one of the group, declined the invitation of a bloody nose, fat lip, and sore jaw. I did, however, show up just to watch the fights, and get some social interaction and entertainment. Five minutes after showing up, some jeers and name calling from my peers forced me to take action. I found myself in the ring with a pair of gloves on my hands, taking full advantage of my friends' faces.
Sure, some very unlucky things would have had to happen for someone to get extremely hurt, but after landing quite a few good hits on someone's face who was a little bit smaller than me, I didn't feel too good about myself. He challenged me whole-heartedly, and definitely wouldn't have given me any grace, but I still felt bad. Even after beating someone else who had a significant weight advantage on me, I still felt bad because he wasn't someone who I would normally fight with or even want to hit. We just found ourselves together in the ring, at odds with each other, and our animalistic natures took over.
What drives people to be so competitive over the smallest things? In a few words--people want other people to like them. Guys want girls to notice how good they are at physical things because that means they make good gene mixers, and guys want other guys to see how good they are at everything because then they can assert their alpha male dominance. People want to be noticed and for others to see that they are worth something. It is good to have talents and be better at some things than others, but think about it--what good is arguing over something that doesn't matter in the long run? Try competing about things that matter; it makes you feel a lot better about yourself when you win.
Being Different
You are different than me. Most people look at me and think to themselves, "Wow, he is the epitome of perfection!", but being different than me isn't a bad thing. It makes you unique. You are different than me, than my parents, than your parents, than your neighbors, than their uncles and aunts, than the cat lady down the street, and the bum on the corner. Different is good. Diversity brings new and exciting things into life. The same is boring, and it leads to closed-mindedness.
Where would we be in a world where everyone was the same? There would be no Shakespeare, no Motzart, no Galileo and Einstein, no Jack Johnson, no Rodney Mullen, and no Kobe Bryant. Not that I am particularly fond of Kobe Bryant, but I digress. If everyone was the same, we would all live in little bland houses with the same amount of rooms, lawns all exactly the same height, and all drive the same type of car around. We would all have the same number of kids in the back seat, all named John, and wearing the same thing. There would be nothing to talk about, nothing new to experience, nobody new to meet. Actually, there would be no cars, or computers or houses--everyone would have been content to live they way they had been living for generations, and there would be no new innovations.
When you look at your friends, how do they compare to you? Does everyone you hang out with paint their nails the same color? Does everyone wear their hair the same, and tell the same jokes, and listen to the same song over and over and over again? Do they all like the same foods and colors and flavors of ice cream? Do they all find the same traits in people attractive, and all have the same talents? There is nothing wrong with having friends who enjoy some of the same things as you--some familiarity is good and draws people closer, but think about it--really. How much of the same do you want in your life? I like a little bit of different.
Opposites attract because there is something inside all of us that wants to have a new perspective, or should want to have a new perspective. Being with people who are different than you helps you grow as a person. Sure, there is a line to draw when people become so different that they go against what you beleive, but experiencing diversity is what helps people mature. How would you know what you like if you never tried something new. Maybe it's time to go look for some people or things that are a little different than usual.
Where would we be in a world where everyone was the same? There would be no Shakespeare, no Motzart, no Galileo and Einstein, no Jack Johnson, no Rodney Mullen, and no Kobe Bryant. Not that I am particularly fond of Kobe Bryant, but I digress. If everyone was the same, we would all live in little bland houses with the same amount of rooms, lawns all exactly the same height, and all drive the same type of car around. We would all have the same number of kids in the back seat, all named John, and wearing the same thing. There would be nothing to talk about, nothing new to experience, nobody new to meet. Actually, there would be no cars, or computers or houses--everyone would have been content to live they way they had been living for generations, and there would be no new innovations.
When you look at your friends, how do they compare to you? Does everyone you hang out with paint their nails the same color? Does everyone wear their hair the same, and tell the same jokes, and listen to the same song over and over and over again? Do they all like the same foods and colors and flavors of ice cream? Do they all find the same traits in people attractive, and all have the same talents? There is nothing wrong with having friends who enjoy some of the same things as you--some familiarity is good and draws people closer, but think about it--really. How much of the same do you want in your life? I like a little bit of different.
Opposites attract because there is something inside all of us that wants to have a new perspective, or should want to have a new perspective. Being with people who are different than you helps you grow as a person. Sure, there is a line to draw when people become so different that they go against what you beleive, but experiencing diversity is what helps people mature. How would you know what you like if you never tried something new. Maybe it's time to go look for some people or things that are a little different than usual.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Hedonism VS. Carpe Diem
Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we shall die.
In theory, this makes sense. Life is short so we must make the best of what we have now. We don't know how long we will last so we should live it up while we have the chance. This is actually an excerpt from Isaiah 22:13, and read in context, the verse shows that this hedonistic idealogy is immoral. There is more to life than the present--mature people look ahead as well as to the present, sometimes opting for current discomfort in place of pleasure so as to set down a solid foundation for the future. Going to college, or working in a horrible job for a time so as to reach a higher posistion are examples of delayed gratification.
Then comes Carpe Diem; sieze the day! Both the ideals of Carpe Diem and Hedonism call its practicers to act now, to take advantage of the present and wait no longer. The difference between the two are the motives behind the action. While the motives of Hedonism are pleasure and selfishness, Carpe Diem sees that there is more to life than just the present. Carpe Diem uses the present as a tool for the future. It doesn't let the moment pass, because it will, but takes control of the situation and uses it for benefit.
Hedonism shouts "Me! Give me what I want now so I can feel good. I don't care what the future holds because I will be dead, and once you are dead it is over. It's too late to have fun, and that is all I care about."
Carpe Diem shouts, "I have a good situation in my posession and I was to capitalize on it. I look to the future, and the future starts now."
In theory, this makes sense. Life is short so we must make the best of what we have now. We don't know how long we will last so we should live it up while we have the chance. This is actually an excerpt from Isaiah 22:13, and read in context, the verse shows that this hedonistic idealogy is immoral. There is more to life than the present--mature people look ahead as well as to the present, sometimes opting for current discomfort in place of pleasure so as to set down a solid foundation for the future. Going to college, or working in a horrible job for a time so as to reach a higher posistion are examples of delayed gratification.
Then comes Carpe Diem; sieze the day! Both the ideals of Carpe Diem and Hedonism call its practicers to act now, to take advantage of the present and wait no longer. The difference between the two are the motives behind the action. While the motives of Hedonism are pleasure and selfishness, Carpe Diem sees that there is more to life than just the present. Carpe Diem uses the present as a tool for the future. It doesn't let the moment pass, because it will, but takes control of the situation and uses it for benefit.
Hedonism shouts "Me! Give me what I want now so I can feel good. I don't care what the future holds because I will be dead, and once you are dead it is over. It's too late to have fun, and that is all I care about."
Carpe Diem shouts, "I have a good situation in my posession and I was to capitalize on it. I look to the future, and the future starts now."
Loyalty
What drives people to give themselves completely to an institution, or an ideal, or a person? Loyalty is a funny thing because at core, people are selfish. Nonetheless, loyalty demands selflessness, and people often give it. There is usually a reason for loyalty. A person is loyal to their country because they love the land, and the laws, and the people. A person is loyal to a philosophy because they beleive in their hearts that it is right and should spread and live on. They are loyal to a person because that person has been loyal to them or they love them.
But then comes betrayal. What does a person do when the thing they have been loyal to turns on them. Their country shuns them. Their philosophy is proven wrong. Their friend or lover no longer reciprocates. How quickly should the change of heart come? Loyalty is worthless if it changes with the wind, yet there is a time to change loyalties. The time comes to admit one placed hope in a faulty place, or in a faulty person. The time to admit that perhaps they were wrong all along, or the time to admit that the rock they were anchored to wasn't as strong afterall.
There is a time to go move to a country that treats it's citizens better. A time to realize that sometimes the things you were taught in school or as a child by your parents just were incorrect. A time to realize that there is someone else out there who won't stab you in the back. A time to realize that being loyal to the things that are loyal to you is the best decision. It should not be thought of as wasted time or resources. It should be thought of as a learning experience through which, better choices will be made in the future.
The question still stands, When is the right time to forget the past and move on?
But then comes betrayal. What does a person do when the thing they have been loyal to turns on them. Their country shuns them. Their philosophy is proven wrong. Their friend or lover no longer reciprocates. How quickly should the change of heart come? Loyalty is worthless if it changes with the wind, yet there is a time to change loyalties. The time comes to admit one placed hope in a faulty place, or in a faulty person. The time to admit that perhaps they were wrong all along, or the time to admit that the rock they were anchored to wasn't as strong afterall.
There is a time to go move to a country that treats it's citizens better. A time to realize that sometimes the things you were taught in school or as a child by your parents just were incorrect. A time to realize that there is someone else out there who won't stab you in the back. A time to realize that being loyal to the things that are loyal to you is the best decision. It should not be thought of as wasted time or resources. It should be thought of as a learning experience through which, better choices will be made in the future.
The question still stands, When is the right time to forget the past and move on?
Tricky Paradoxes
A paradox is a series of true statements that, when put together yield a false statement. This is one of the most well-known paradoxes, so I must pose it as a scenario.
Imagine that time travel does exist and is completely feasible. There is an evil time Traveller who, in his travels begins to tamper with time so as to change the future. As he begins to tamper, more and more changes occur. In an attempt to create the most radical change in his own life that he can, he murders his own grandfather while he was still a child, before his grandfather had a change to concieve the time traveller's father.
If the grandfather is dead and has no children, how is it possible for the evil time traveller to even be born so as to go back and murder the grandfather?
Imagine that time travel does exist and is completely feasible. There is an evil time Traveller who, in his travels begins to tamper with time so as to change the future. As he begins to tamper, more and more changes occur. In an attempt to create the most radical change in his own life that he can, he murders his own grandfather while he was still a child, before his grandfather had a change to concieve the time traveller's father.
If the grandfather is dead and has no children, how is it possible for the evil time traveller to even be born so as to go back and murder the grandfather?
Tricky Paradoxes 2
Suppose Jack has a strong distaste for wishy-washy people. People who don't know what they want, are afraid to say it, or aren't willing to stand up for what they beleive because of fear of conflict. He likes strong people who know what they want or beleive, and aren't afraid to say as much.
Then, there is Jill. She has a strong attraction to Jack. Jill is a strong person, but she understands that sacrifices must sometimes be made in interpersonal relationships to keep both parties happy. Jack likes certain traits or characteristics that Jill doesn't have, but does like the fact that Jill is a strong person. Would Jill, by changing herself to more fit the tastes of Jack and adding traits that he finds attractive yet she does not yet have, be contradicting the very thing that Jack found attractive in her? Would this ruin the basis of the entire relationship in an attempt by Jill to be more appealing?
Then, there is Jill. She has a strong attraction to Jack. Jill is a strong person, but she understands that sacrifices must sometimes be made in interpersonal relationships to keep both parties happy. Jack likes certain traits or characteristics that Jill doesn't have, but does like the fact that Jill is a strong person. Would Jill, by changing herself to more fit the tastes of Jack and adding traits that he finds attractive yet she does not yet have, be contradicting the very thing that Jack found attractive in her? Would this ruin the basis of the entire relationship in an attempt by Jill to be more appealing?
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