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2. No One Usually Cares About How Hard You've Worked

I'm sure someone does, but the flock only pays attention to those with publicity. Think about all the all-nighters that are pulled to make this world work.

Recognition is not given to everyone who needs it, and dealing with that fact can be tough on people who have such selfish personalities as myself. People complain about things much easier than what you may be dealing with, and they may be receiving more sympathy for whatever they struggle with. Sometimes, we get so busy with work that we don't even have time to complain about it. Meanwhile, those who still have the energy to whine get the sympathy. I don't mean to sound so shallow, but don't kid yourself into believing that all hard work pays off with recognition. And that's life. At the same time, if we feel this way, realize that millions of people feel this way too.

This doesn't mean we should just stop working hard the moment we realize we won't be recognized. We must just deal with this fact and move forward. At the end, if it's something we are passionate for, the hard work is naturally worth it. If it's for someone we care for, the hard work should make us happy; we are serving someone we love. If it's for school or something work related, the hard work is a rite of passage to better a position or career. These experiences and feelings are how hard work "pays off".

As I round out of high school, I realized that I worked hard all four years. Endless AP classes, community service hours, leadership positions, school events, and a physically/mentally exhausting extracurricular. However, coming out of it without whining (apart from this whiny blog post) and without getting sympathy makes me feel like a stronger person. I'm not saying I've never complained, but I persevered. I won't be recognized for it, for every student (more or less) has persevered through some sort of hardship, and the amount of hard work we put in is all relative. I'd be crazy to think I'm the only one who has worked hard. However, some things come more naturally to others, so some people are capable of doing more with less complaints. It's lucky and enviable, but again, it's life, and we must learn to suck it up and catch up.

I guess my overall message is that hard work is necessary in life; nothing is easy, but you are definitely not the only one working hard. Some people you meet may get more recognition than they deserve, but there's no need to pull them off their pedestal. Hard work is rewarding when people care about how hard you've worked, but the self-satisfaction of having overcome so much without losing your calm is pretty great too. I often forget this with my petty and self-centered attitude, but it's important to remind ourselves that we must be both our own heroes and biggest fans.

Comments

  1. RockSiddyMay 12, 2021 at 6:40 AM

    We must be both our own heroes and biggest fans. What a lovely thought. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete

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