There is no reliable information to give us a specific number of American casualties fighting for freedom's cause during the Revolutionary War. At best, an estimated 50,000 troops sacrificed their lives. If the average male has six quarts, or five and a half liters of blood, that equates to 300,000 quarts or 275,000 liters of blood spilled for what they merely hoped we might one day have.
Of course, many of those perished due to disease and starvation, but that doesn't really help in this metaphor...but a noble sacrifice, nonetheless.
Live like there is no tomorrow, otherwise tomorrow isn't worth your time. These men fought tooth and nail for our tomorrows, knowing full well that theirs were up for grabs. If they were not willing to die, where would that leave us?
This is an important concept, one you should keep in your back pocket for future reference. Death, whether we're speaking in literal terms, or using it as a metaphor, is an opening door...a portal to survival. A willingness to sacrifice, to die even, is freedom's calling card. Ironically, your survival demands it.
This may be a stretch, but take the game Box Head Run for example. This takes at least two people, but you can have a large group as well. Find a box, just larger than the average, human head, one that will prevent the participant from seeing a damn thing. A blindfold works just as well, but the name of the game would not be as amusing, and the entertainment value for the spectators would be considerably diminished. The box was originally utilized due to availability and thus, necessity.
Here's how to play. The participants in this game take turns, one at a time. A box is fixed on the head completely covering the eyes, the player is spun around several times as to disorient them, and then must navigate an obstacle course with a predetermined destination. For this example, and in my experience with the game, the destination was the most comfortable ugly chair in the world (but you can choose whatever you like based on availability). The participant should be familiar with the chosen destination and the course they are to stumble through. Other participants, while spectating and waiting their turn, are encouraged to throw objects in the path of the contestant in order to slow them down. Obviously, the contestant with the fastest time wins.
The individual that throws the most caution to the wind has a decent chance of winning, yet they also have the best chance of running into a wall at a higher rate of speed than one would normally desire when running into a wall. Injury risk is high and breaking objects along the way is likely. Reckless abandon is a necessity, for the cautious player can not truly contend for top prize. Sacrifice is the path to victory. Effort to put in the fastest time takes some irreverence to failure, and hope to find the most comfortable ugliest chair in the world faster than your opponents is the motivating factor. Sitting in that chair at the end of the journey is only worth the time if you've given yourself a real opportunity to win the game.
Effort and hope make it a worthwhile experience. Fear failure and lose.
Likening a soldier taking a bullet in the name of freedom to running into a wall with a box fixed to your head isn't quite apples to apples, but I've referenced the game enough times that you deserve an explanation. This seemed as good an opportunity as any.
Today's Jazz Hands were deployed with reckless abandon. Day one-hundred and eighty-six complete.
