Sacrifice

Recently I keep coming across a recurring message... that love is defined by the act of sacrifice. Sacrifice is a by-product and in some ways proof of existence of love.

When romance first blossoms, small sacrifices are made usually unconsciously. Sacrificing sleep chatting on the phone till wee hours, losing time with friends just to stare into each other's eyes under the stars... even sacrificing many dollars on taxi rides just to travel to some obscure corner of the island for dates.

And then things develop to a stage where more commitment is required. We choose to date exclusively and thereby sacrificing potential opportunities to date other people. As a relationship develops, the need for commitment increases, along with this, more sacrifice. Soon it becomes conscious effort, a conscious choice - we are faced with many situations where we have to ask ourselves "his benefits or mine?", "his interests or mine? and "his happiness or mine?"

Anyone who says they have never felt the pinch of sacrifice in a relationship has either never made any sacrifices or is just a saint who loves selflessly. No one is selfless, that's what makes us human, our awareness of self; the survival instinct to guard our own interest lies at the very heard of our mortal being.

But the pain begins when the sacrifices we make goes un-noticed, do we then decide to publicise and make known our efforts, or let it go un-noticed? What do we do when we realise we keep giving and the other party is either unappreciative or unaware? Do we still keep on giving out of love, or do we stop giving so they will realize their loss? Which is the bigger thing to do? To attend to his needs, even tho he doesn't know or to take care of my own needs, before I lose my self consciousness?