Photo by Erik Karits: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cockroach-in-macro-photography-11022142/

Writing inspired by the following SWC prompts:

“What Are You Willing To Sacrifice?”


Write a story or a poem where this question gets asked.

What Are You Willing To Sacrifice?

by Natasa Pap

The law of equivalent exchange dictates that if one wishes to obtain something, then he must first sacrifice something that’s of equal value.
Life functions on the strict principle whether we accept that or not.

Some people give up a promising career in favor of becoming a dedicated spouse and a parent. Others do the exact opposite.

Whether it’s breaking away from the norm, commitment issues, stubbornness, spite, trauma, fear or just feeling that they are not cut out for it, some people choose to sacrifice marriage, parenthood and domestic life in favor of building a long-lasting career.

Thrill seekers, be they teenagers or older, have a habit of sacrificing their safety and well-being just to satisfy their curiosity or find that adrenaline rush they were desperately searching for. Be that in the shape of trespassing in restricted areas, lurking around allegedly haunted places like the woods, abandoned houses, hospitals or schools, or exploring the local cemetery in the middle of the night on a full moon.

Not all curiosity leads down dangerous paths, however. Academic curiosity is usually easier to satisfy – one simply reads a book or attends school. But what happens when one is not in a favorable financial situation?

One option is to study and work which may require sacrificing a healthy social life. That may require relearning the rusted social skills later in life. Others choose to sacrifice the higher education; they settle for a trade or some other job that will provide them long lasting, financial security and usually leaves their social skills intact.

When they close their business for the night are they satisfied with where they are in life and how everything turned out for them, or do they sit in front of the fireplace and shed tears of regret as their hearts ache for the loss of their true hopes and dreams?

On social media some people seem to have it all. Their Instagram feeds and reels are filled with pictures and videos of their education, career, social and family life. But is that really the case? Do they really have it all? Was life always that easy for them? They never had to sacrifice anything to get to where they are now, and it was always smooth sailing for them? I find that hard to believe. Besides who knows what’s hiding behind that social media smile or what things are like at home when the camera is turned off.