Have you ever heard of the law of equivalent exchange? It’s a concept law from an anime and reads, “Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy’s first law of equivalent exchange.”
As dope as this show is, this law made me reflect on how many sacrifices I have made in my own life to get to where I am now. I learned that sacrifice is necessary in every form to reach your dreams and that regret is truly just a mindset. I celebrate every single milestone with a treat, no matter how small or how big, because I know there is no reward for downplaying my own successes. I learned not to respond or react to unnecessary stressors, which opened doors to rooms I was originally so frightened to enter because one interaction didn’t shape my entire life, let alone my day. I walk into future endeavors knowing that even if I lost everything now, I could get it back because it’s not on me, it’s within me. Honestly, now that I know to let go and embrace sacrifice, I enter new jobs, school years, and phases without regret holding me back.
At the same time, the law is so great because it’s not about sacrifice; it tells you that what you give, you will get back in return. Late nights, imposter syndrome, loneliness—I’ve felt it all, and honestly, I may feel it again sometimes, but I know there is a light at the end of my journey, and I won’t be running away from it.