Sleep is for the Weak

This mantra “sleep is for the weak” is something that I’ve been telling myself for the past five years. Full disclosure: I love sleep, and would love to get 8-10 hours of sleep a night. With a five-year old, two-year old and a two-month old, that obviously is not an option. This “sleep is for the weak” mantra is something I tell myself to psych myself up for another night of feeding bottles and changing diapers.

Why do I do it? Because I’m willing to sacrifice something I want for something that’s worthwhile. I’ve sacrificed something I prefer (a full night’s rest) for something I’d much rather have (the ability to father three amazing boys). Life tends to be like that. It’s all about trade-offs. You can have an easy job, or you can have a productive job. You can have a stress-free life, or you can have real responsibility. You can have leisure-filled days, or you can do something meaningful.

Almost anything meaningful in life requires sacrifice, and our willingness to give up our preferences and sometimes our wants grants us the ability to achieve our dreams. But going halfway usually never works, as much as we wish it would.

Maybe you’ve tried dieting, but only on weekdays. The weekends are for you to eat whatever you want. Let me know how that works out for you. Maybe you’re holding out for your dream job: a job that starts off with a salary in six figures, a company car, but only demands 25 hours a week and lets you work from home. When you find that job, please say ‘hi’ to the unicorn and leprechaun that will be working with you.

Anything meaningful in life will require tremendous sacrifice: of your time, your preferences, and your wants. Do you want to lose that weight that’s been nagging you since your ‘freshman fifteen?’ Are you willing to sacrifice your culinary ‘wants’ seven days a week, 365 days a year? Do you want to be successful in a highly sought-after profession? Are you willing to make the sacrifices to get the educational degree you need?

Anything in life requires sacrifice. I started writing this particular blog entry after taking the 4 a.m. shift with my newborn, Lincoln. I wanted to remind myself why I’m sacrificing my sleep.  He’s worth it.

QUESTION: What’s something worthwhile that you’re willing to sacrifice your wants for?

<p>Free images from <a href=”http://www.freedigitalphotos.net”>FreeDigitalPhotos.net</a></p>