Does Life Mean Sacrifice?

**forHISglory** · 12-08-2010, 07:18 PM

I admit it: I tend to stray towards pondering philosophical questions. I've been thinking lately about sacrifice, and it seems to me that quality life is simple a series of sacrifices.

And what do we sacrifice? Time, money, things, a listening ear, emotions........

Here's the question: What do you sacrifice for others? Do you resent sacrifice? Welcome it? Do you see life as sacrifice?

**stinkbug** · 12-08-2010, 07:23 PM

I am so tired right now...that my one word answer is, Yes.

**Darlene** · 12-08-2010, 07:31 PM

I think almost everything in life is take and give and we always have choices to make. People & situations have as much power over us as we choose to give them for the most part. Not a fan of big government (take take take & I only have so much power there) but that's another story.

I think I often get more than I give because I really look for those small things that can mean a lot. I do enjoy giving of myself, mostly in the form of encouragement and positive thinking, cheering people on. Seeing others find happiness they may have overlooked and helping them feel their best rocks my world.

**Imarachne** · 12-08-2010, 07:32 PM

By sacrificing , we gain understanding of what others are going through and it gives us hope ourselves that we can be strong too. I'm thinking today of Elizabeth Edwards and what were her last words on her blog. Very inspirational whether you agree with her or nor.

**frugalwarrior2** · 12-08-2010, 08:05 PM

I wouldn't call it sacrifice as much as trade-offs. In order to reach a goal I may trade my time,energy,money towards a payoff.
If we are talking sacrifice I think of my children,DH. For those I sacrifice what I want to give them what they need.

**lisaflex** · 12-08-2010, 08:22 PM

some great insights here!

i thik we all sacrifice in some way at some time. some more than others.

the one thing i do think is that...Joam of Arc died already, stop trying to be her. i mean that when people say ridiculous things about frugality and life.

**lisaflex** · 12-08-2010, 08:24 PM

and, i truly believe that life is meant to be lived. one never knows when our time will be up. we could pull out of the driveway in five minutes from now and be killed. one never knows. so, if you are always living for the future, you may miss out on alot of LIFE. life is meant to be lived to its fullest each day. if you wait forever to do something or whatever the case may be, you may never get that chance.

sacrifice is important, but, ....i think i said enough.

**Greebo** · 12-08-2010, 08:43 PM

Sacrifice is to give up something of value for something of lesser or no value.

Frugal living is to live long term - to give up something of lesser value for something of greater long term value.

**lisaflex** · 12-08-2010, 09:15 PM

well said greebo.

life is short. and never a straight line. so, make those "sacrifices" wisely..make sure they really mean something in the whoel realm of life

**Cricketlegs** · 12-08-2010, 10:27 PM

I don't see life as a sacrifice at all. I think it is what it is and for me I am determined to be happy and I am because I allow myself the ability to roll with the punches.

Do I get upset and tired sometimes? Oh sure. I just try and shake it off. I remember that I am married to a great man, I have beautiful kind children, I have a modest home and a modest life.

I never wanted a spectacular life. I just wanted normal and to me being normal in my life means I do have it all indeed!

**mauimagic** · 12-08-2010, 11:01 PM

Sacrifices - perhaps....I see it as a series of choices - the results beng a cumulative effect. Scrifice to me is a negative word, while making choices reflects a more powerful position.

**Nana2two** · 12-08-2010, 11:02 PM

I think so. I give up alot of material things to get to stay at home. I give up my own time to make sure my grandsons are taken care of, So i do sacrifice on many things. Not because i have to. Its because i want to.

**MissSeetonFan** · 12-09-2010, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by Greebo

Sacrifice is to give up something of value for something of lesser or no value.

That is one way of looking at sacrifice. But the returns are often much greater than what you originally gave up, or they make up for it quite well. Taking care of a sick child and having them give you a big hug and tell you they love you. A baby smile after a hard night. Giving up movies or extra activities in order to get out of debt might be construed as a sacrifice but teaching your child how to use money wisely so they do not repeat the same mistakes you did is definitely worth it.

I guess it is how you look at things.

**Greebo** · 12-09-2010, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by MissSeetonFan

That is one way of looking at sacrifice. But the returns are often much greater than what you originally gave up, or they make up for it quite well. Taking care of a sick child and having them give you a big hug and tell you they love you. A baby smile after a hard night. Giving up movies or extra activities in order to get out of debt might be construed as a sacrifice but teaching your child how to use money wisely so they do not repeat the same mistakes you did is definitely worth it.

I guess it is how you look at things.

On the contrary, it's a question of how you value things.

Which raises the question of "what is a value?" Money has value - true. Money IS value? False. Value has a different meaning than money - or money would be the only thing of value.

So what is a value? A value is that which we act to gain or to keep. The measure of something's value to us as individuals is the measure of how hard we would work and how much we would give to attain the item in question.

When we talk about monetary value - giving up the trip to the theater which rarely gives us more than a short term thrill and a brief escape from reality (how many times do movies actually add real value to our lives, after all?) in order to secure a long term financial state of well being? That's something that considered in the long haul is no sacrifice at all.

**forHISglory** · 12-09-2010, 09:48 AM

Very thoughtful answers!
Greebo, I'm still pondering your reply, but don't think that I agree with you (may be semantics....).

I really think that I can sacrifice for something of equal or higher value. I can sacrifice my time (which is valuable to me) to care for my parents (sick child, etc.). But I consider them to be worth more than my time. I sacrifice immediate gratification for long term stability. For example, when we built our home, we went without flooring for quite a while (just had sub floor). It would have been so much more comfortable to put in the tile and carpet right away, but we didn't have the money and I wasn't about to get a loan. I was willing to sacrifice the immediate comfort for the longer range goal of being debt free. Are we talking the same thing?