On Trying Hard

Once, in a high school English class, we were given an assignment to pick a song that related to the themes we were discussing in the book we were reading. Not wanting to look like a tryhard (which, spoiler alert, that ship had way sailed), when it came my time to share my song, I said, “I picked this song. But I don’t even know if it relates because it’s just like the song I was listening to while I was doing my homework. So like, it might not count.”

We pulled up the lyrics and my teacher and a friend (in a really affirming and good friend move) went, “Actually, Liz, this song relates perfectly because of this line and this line and this line.”

And of course it did. And I knew it did. Because I was a tryhard and I was really into lyricism and book themes. And I knew I’d nailed it with my song selection. 

This March, some 15 years later, I found a white blouse decorated with radishes, carrots, strawberries, and peas at the thrift store for $3. Immediately enamored, I bought it with the intention of wearing it on the first day of Spring. For whatever reason—it was either too hot or too cold, impossible to keep up these days—that day came and went.

Then, yesterday morning, while getting ready for work, I saw it hanging in my closet and thought how Earth Day was the perfect moment for its debut. Throughout the day, as people commented on the vegetable blouse, I replied with “thank you so much; it’s Earth Day!”

It’s actually so cool to try hard.

It’s actually so cool to be really interested in something. It’s cool to spend time researching and crafting and creating. It’s cool to put time and effort into a thing. It’s really cool to care.

Silly as it sounds, it is one of my embarrassing high school memories. And one that I’m glad I had a good friend (and teacher) gently call me out on. But I’m embarrassed and sad for that younger version who was ashamed of how much she cared and how hard she worked and how interesting she found everything. 

Being a teenager is hard.

But there’s something really brilliant about growing into an adult who can confidently say, “yes, I was really excited to intentionally wear my vegetable blouse on Earth Day.” 

It’s not only okay to try, it’s actively encouraged. 

So lean in on your education. Give a sh** about your job. Make an effort in your relationships. Care about the world. Try hard. 

Life gets really good when you do.