Sacrifices, Choices, and Dreams

Choices Vs Sacrifices

That distinct moment when you figure out what you want to be when you grow up. The split second later when you’re slammed with the reality of what it will take to get there. Dreams and reality rarely coordinate, rarely communicate. They collide and crash, explode and erupt. They fight, they clash, they wrestle with each other trying to win in our minds.

Dreams are those rare items that give us hope, keep us afloat, and make life livable.

Reality is what keeps us grounded, human, real.

In order to follow a dream, we have to sacrifice a reality. But to live in reality, we often have to sacrifice a dream. Sacrifice is such a scary word when you’re not familiar with the broad definition. However, it can be such an invigorating word when you become familiar with the extensive variations of the word.

When we come to the end of the day, we sacrifice for sleep. We sacrifice light for dark, activity for rest. When we come to the end of our childhood, we sacrifice play and dependency for responsibility and independence. To have a bag of potato chips, we sacrifice the healthy alternative. When we silence the alarm for an extra 15 minutes of sleep, we sacrifice our freedom in the morning. When we sacrifice exercise, we also sacrifice a healthy body.

Choices

When you look at a sacrifice as a choice, when you realize that we make sacrifices each moment of every day, you realize that life, in and of itself, is a constant chain of sacrifices. Making a choice sacrifices the alternative.

I’m working to change things in my life. It starts small, but over time, will become monumental. Each choice, each action reflects on the next. Words can create or destroy; actions can build up or tear down. If I choose to view it as a choice, I’m sacrificing the hold that negativity can take on me. As I get older, I realize that the person I have become is not who I had hoped I would be. And the life I live, while it makes me content, is nowhere near where my dreams had envisioned me. So, changes have to be made. Choices have to be made and sacrifices offered.

So much can happen in a heartbeat, regret should not be one of them. No one notices when you cry in the rain, no one sees you smile in the dark. But you know, you feel, you remember.

A final note: when we pass over time with God, we sacrifice His love and guidance for our lives. This is the first sacrifice I intend to quit making.

But each day is a new beginning and every morning is a new day!

If you’re struggling with making big choices, I invite you to check out some of the Workbooks in the Shop. They are designed to help with big decisions, daily money-making activities, and creating visions that encourage!

Go join the Squirrel Herders Facebook page for encouragement, inspiration, and other like-minded entrepreneurs!