The following disclaimer, as usual, cautions those readers with overly heightened sensibilities to go eat breakfast while the rest of the big kids go behind the bridge to smoke a bag. This is my blog and I will say what I want. Everything here is my own opinion and nobody else's. Deal with it.
The formalities out of the way, I'd like to discuss a little thing called loyalty. We don't normally think about such things unless said loyalty is either exceptional or broken. Sadly, I'm no different from the masses in this one, and I have had quite unfortunate experiences as of late.
Loyalty, as defined by the great dictionary on the internet is a "faithful adherence to a sovereign, government, leader,cause, etc." and "an example or instance of faithfulness, adherence, or the like." But how does one truly define what that means? Should you follow a person blindly into the cold, dark, oblivion never to be seen again on a fool's errand? No, of course not. There are big differences between stupidity and loyalty.
No. No no no no no!
Loyalty is the ability to stand up to someone you love and tell them they're wrong. It's the firm desire that even though you may upset them, you're going to help them grow. You're going to slap them around when they need it, and you're going to comfort them afterwards. It's that deep love you feel for another that you cannot just idly sit and watch them destroy themselves and the people around them. Loyalty is love in action.
Loyalty is in every chance you a person. It's every lecture you give and every heartache you suffer. It's in one person's ability to look past the hard candy shell and see the chocolate center they know is there. It's holding them in your hand while you wait for it to melt(Yeah, M&Ms really do melt in your hand. Don't let the commercials fool you). It's taking that chance on someone even when you know you're going to have the same results. Loyalty is hopeful optimism in face of defeat.
Loyalty is the giving of oneself to something that may be better than the self. It's looking at your own wants and your own needs and then looking at what the right choice is. It's the actions we take when our backs are against the wall. It's the choices we make when no one is looking. It's looking to the future, not the past. It's knowing the difference. Loyalty is the courage to put the life of another above yourself and the trust that they'll do the same.
Loyalty is knowing when enough is enough. It's the ability to see something for what it is and be able to walk away from it. It's knowing that unless you're willing to cut off an arm, you're going to die. It's actually doing so. Loyalty is the wisdom to know when to walk away.
Loyalty, in any of its forms, is one of the most difficult concepts for a human being to truly grasp and understand. We are selfish and needy and are inclined to act without considering others. We're impatient and impulsive. These qualities often serve us well, but rarely when working together with others. I fail at it sometimes, but I always get back up and try again.
I learn from my mistakes.
I have learned from my mistakes.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
― Mark Twain
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