Minor characters in our life

So, let me begin by telling you a prologue.

As a pianist, I of course play piano. When performing solo piano play, the stage becomes mine; I'll become the one who is spotted by spotlight. The focus of attention would be--definitely--me. When performing a piano concerto, I'm accompanied by orchestra. However, the grand piano would be in the center of the stage (again, it becomes the center of attention) and the orchestra would be behind the grand piano, arranged in semi-circle lines surrounding the piano. But there are times when I perform with a singer and the focus of attention moves to the singer. Yes, the one who will stand in the front-center of the stage is the singer, not the pianist. The piano would be placed behind, though audience could still see it. Speaking of volume mixer, the trigger for singer would be turned up that the voice of the singer would be heard clearer and louder, and the one for piano would be set in such a way that it would not dominate the music and therefore, piano would be just an accompaniment.

I could say that as a pianist, I sometimes take major parts in a performance but in other times, I take minor ones. I 'sacrifice' myself to become minor part in a performance that somebody else could play major part and become the star. And guess what? It just happens. When I know that I would perform a solo piano play, then I know that I'll be the focus of the attention. When I'm told that I will perform with a singer, then I know that I am the one who would accompany the singer, not the singer who would accompany me. And of course, I would not ask the crew to place the grand piano in the front-center of the stage, and ask the singer to stand right behind the grand piano that I would be the one who is spotted by the spotlight. I immediately know my role; who I am and what I would do. And one more important thing: it is done sincerely.

Actually, the issue I'm bringing up is about minor characters in our life. Back to the prologue, you could see that a pianist could perform as a protagonist (when performing a solo piano play), or a deuteragonist (when performing as music accompaniment). In our life, there are some people who 'sacrifice' themselves that we become the one who take major part in life. I have to call it a 'sacrifice' since it is done sincerely. Though the pianist perform only as a music accompaniment, but he does it sincerely; he does not complain about his position for he knows his role.

Those who sacrifice themselves would be the minor part in life, letting us become the major part. Then, who are they? How do they sacrifice themselves that we become the major part in life? Could I start by saying these: family, relatives, friends. Rings the bell, doesn't it?

Our parents do have dreams and expectations. Yes, they do, for they are human-beings. They have us. We live as human-being in this world, becoming part of our parents' life. Again, we are human-being, therefore we have dreams and expectations. To reach expectations is not an easy thing. You have to work hard and put your best effort in it. Our journey might not be as beautiful as a big cruise ship gliding smoothly in vast ocean; we might be stumbled, we might fall, we might cry, we might bleed. The journey to our destination--our expectation might be so hard that we need somebody to accompany and help us in bad times. So let's say that you want to be a superstar but you know that becoming a superstar is not as easy as winkling your eyes. You would need people to help you and support you. They might be your parents and your friends. You know that your parents and your friends definitely have their own dreams and expectations, but they sincerely put aside their dreams and support you instead that you'll become the superstar. Your parents probably want to buy something (let's say, a car), but they know that to become a superstar, you have to learn about many things so they spend their money for you and put aside the wish of having a car. Your father might go to work by train or bus, because he keeps the money that should have been allocated for the new car for you. Your mother moonlights every day because she knows that her salary might not be enough to support your dreams. Your friends might not help you directly. They might not work hard to earn money that they could buy you nice outfits, but without their support you could not be a superstar. They sincerely support and pray for you that you would succeed.

The people I mentioned, they are minor characters in our life. They sacrifice themselves that we become the major character. I may say that I'm lucky for having minor characters in my life who always sincerely support me, and help me in bad times. In other times, I might be a minor character for someone's life. It's okay. As long as being minor character could help and support him or her, then why not?

There are times when we sacrifice ourselves to help and support other people. But remember that there are people who take one step backward and support us so we could take 'one step forward'.


After all, thanks for Mr. Budi for the inspiration