Appreciation and Sacrifice

We all know what appreciation and sacrifice are. Heck, sometimes we use the two words together in one sentence. We have all sacrificed to get something or somewhere and have appreciated or been appreciated for something we have seen or done. I am curious if we have actually taken time to truly appreciate what we have accomplished and really looked at it from the outside and not through our critical lenses known as self. We have also sacrificed and feel that people should appreciate the efforts we made to make it happen. I think if we truly sacrificed everything that we were comfortable with to attempt achieving that one thing that has been in the back of our minds for however long it has been there, we would then know sacrifice. Instead, we write it off as dreamy, irresponsible, and not practical. It’s funny how growing older actually slows are desires for success. Not all people are that way but majority rules in this society. If you gave up everything to pursue that one thing, people would do weird things to you; talk bad about you, make fun of you, and snicker when you were around. In an astounding turn of events we sacrifice so that we can conform and fit in to that set of principles that is accepted. I am no better as I find myself doing the same things. For God sakes, I love racing and coach college tennis. People always want to know how I can sacrifice time to do both on a high level. Well, I appreciate the time I have with my family when I am there and we all sacrifice so that we can do the things we enjoy. The terms appreciation and sacrifice are so relative to me. I appreciate everything that is given to me especially when someone has sacrificed to make it happen. That being said, some people definitely sacrificed a lot more to make it happen than others. Should I appreciate that gift or person more because I know how much they sacrificed? I stay conflicted with this question and know that each person will judge me upon their own criteria. I will appreciate all that I have and receive and will sacrifice only based upon the importance of what I want. We all do. Find what you want, find out the price of the sacrifice, determine if you are willing to pay that price, and then appreciate the process of obtaining what you want. Only then will you appreciate your sacrifices.