Trying to Try

Liberians are pretty honest. They tell you when you look fat or thin. They make a distinct face or sound if they don’t like what they hear. Liberians don’t really soften the blow like we would back home.

Liberians also like to tell stories and really draw out the narrative. In Liberia, you’re never simply late for work. You had to wait for a taxi and then the traffic was really bad. You tried to call your boss but were out of money on your phone and had to buy a scratch card somewhere. Your cousin needed some help with a job so you had to help him out.

But despite all these obstacles – and more – you are here. You are trying to try.

If the day hasn’t been quite so dramatic, you may just be trying. “How are you today, Jeff?” “Not bad…trying” is often the response. On a Friday morning, you are more likely get a sigh followed by, “just trying to try.”

Frankly, I have some sympathy, as I was trying to try today. I have a cold that came out of nowhere, we were running a program in a stuffy conference room that lost air conditioning about three hours before we were done, and we have to work tomorrow (Saturday).

It’s sort of a bulletproof statement. If someone is trying – let alone trying to try – what can you do but encourage them? They are trying their best at that moment, given all they are dealing with. They haven’t given up. They are trying…to try.