There are many phrases in the English language which people regurgitate without pausing to consider what they actually mean. In fact, I often wonder at the general garbage that spews out of peoples’ mouths sometimes (perhaps if I didn’t eavesdrop so much I would hear much less of it). But I digress. The definition of a cliché is an expression which has been so overused that it has lost its original meaning. Why, then, do people still insist on using it, and other such quotes?
Take, for example, the phrase ‘no one said it would be easy, they only said it would be worth it.’ This is complete tripe. Actually, I take that back because half of the quote is true. No one did say it would be easy - but no one said it would be worth it either. In fact, no one said anything at all. If anything, it was the tiny voice in your head that you most probably ignored when making a decision, which is now being shouted down with this phrase to justify that ultimately wrong decision.
Let’s take this quote literally, for argument’s sake. If you were about to make a monumental choice, but were somewhat weak of heart and were told that the path you had chosen was not easy, you would most likely back out. That’s nothing to be ashamed of – we’re human, and we like to make things as effortless as possible for ourselves. Alternatively, if you were a strong-minded individual, then you wouldn’t really be seeking advice in the first place, and even if someone did dare to voice this quote as their opinion, you probably wouldn’t listen. Furthermore, the definition of something being ‘worth it’ is entirely subjective. L’Oreal claims that we should use their beauty products because we’re worth it, but if a human’s worth is based on their shampoo, then I’m afraid I disagree.
There are a thousand other phrases which irk me, but I shall spare you the rant. I chose this particular one because people hide behind it all too often. It comes back to being decisive in the end. If you’ve made a choice, stick with it. The path it leads you on might be easy, or it might be hard; you might regret it, or it might benefit you in ways you never imagined. But for God’s sake, don’t cliché your way to justification of your choice – it simply isn’t worth it.
