Loyalty...

I have had various definitions to this word as I was growing up. At one stage of my childhood, it was about having someone as your best friend, then at one point when I was heart-broken with all my friends who didn't turn out to be "loyal" in terms of she didn't play with me today, he didn't lend me this comic to read first etc.,etc.
came in the philosophy - that no humans are worth being trustworthy - I believed in the saying that man's best friend can only be his/her pet etc.

Then came the years of college - and with it the burden of troubled hormones! Every small thing was a big deal! She said this, he said that, Mom frowned, Dad was angry, the neighbor cracked a joke on me, my brother did not think I looked cute in my new skirt and what not. So, everyone who did not make it to my favorites list for the day or even that hour at times, were added to the dis-loyals list :-)simply and brutally...
At time even felt like I had the burden of the whole world on my tiny (well, tiny compared to now :-) shoulders.
Little did I know that I had come hardly any distance in Life, and there was so much more to be seen yet...

The marriage phase set in, and came with it a newer definition of loyalty. Hubby said this, and didn't say that, he loves-me, he loves-me-not, in-laws said something, the sister-in-law was always grumpy, and never was nice to me, and the hubby didn't react to the insults she threw at me - in totality made up the baseline for the favorite people of that week or the month. And, thus evolved the loyals list - yet again. And re-defined!Simply and brutally...

The parenting phase followed. And with it the sleepless nights, and the diaper changes at the oddest places and times, including the teeny toilet of the aircraft, which I bet cannot accommodate beyond a normal sized butt :-) Thank God, I fit in - but changing the baby in that space was a hellish experience. And the chore of coming home from a full day's work and going through the not-so-great experiences with some of the blokes in other teams, only to find the baby in a rotten mood - makes you go with all that you have inside you at least what you have left, and you will want do anything you have to calm things at home. End of the tussle, a happy baby, and a happy husband - things being finally under control, kind of puts your faith back in the bigger force of nature! Yes, there is God, and he is watching and he takes care of you!.
Okay, so when the baby grows, and gives that tight big hug and the cutest smile to the dad - takes his side, after all that was done for her as described above by you, it simply felt like there was no definition what so ever for the term loyalty at all!

Every time I attempted describing it, I thought I had done and had it wrapped up - but had to do it all over again only too quickly..

It sets me thinking - is there anything called loyalty at all? Is it right to expect this in return at all from anyone in this lifetime?

Everyone uses you for something or the other - after all, it is the era of "Use and Throw". But guys, don't let the philosophy that every man's best friend is an animal since it has no expectations etc. bite you - we all are perfectly capable of giving and begetting loyalty in all imaginable forms!.

And also remember, what goes around comes around guys, you don't want to be that piece of Styrofoam... thrown once used, you want to be the piece of China that is preserved in the china cabinet...precious, and forever!

So, ensure that you become that China piece/or the China doll, by making sure not to treat others like Styrofoam. Treat them with utmost care, and lo behold, what do you think you will get in return?

Yes, Loyalty - for life !!!