How Are You Going to “Earn It”?

You’re not alone. We’re all fighting our own battles, and trust me, life can feel like a war zone sometimes. Speaking of wars, I’ve never been one for war movies. I could barely sit through them—except for Heartbreak Ridge with my dad when I was a kid. The only reason that movie stuck with me is because my dad would always quote a line from it: “It’s a question of mind over matter. We no longer mind, ’cause, you don’t matter.” Now, that quote could spark a whole other conversation, but let’s save that for another day.

There was also Saving Private Ryan—I saw it in my twenties, but honestly, I barely remember it. Except for one scene. And no, it wasn’t because someone I loved used to quote it. It’s because that scene came rushing back to me when I was flying home from Canada after my near suicide attempt in 2018.

Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen the movie.

It’s the scene where Captain John Miller, played by Tom Hanks, tells Private Ryan, “earn this, earn it,” right before he dies.

Private Ryan was saved because it was believed that his mother would find some peace in his return after losing her other sons to the war. Many soldiers gave their lives so he could live. “Earn this” was Captain Miller’s way of telling him that he needed to make their sacrifice worth it by living a life that mattered.

Here’s the thing: life’s thrown a lot at us. People around the world have faced incredible hardships, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice. We can debate the details all day long, but what really matters is that these are real people. Their sacrifices, much like those of soldiers throughout history, often weren’t by choice.

This past week, as I’ve been juggling the usual chaos—work deadlines, trying to keep up with my own goals, and the never-ending to-do list—that scene from Saving Private Ryan has been playing on repeat in my mind.

We’ve been given a chance to grow, to better ourselves and to serve others. Right now we can hit pause, evaluate our lives, and make the changes we’ve been too busy to make. We, like Private Ryan, have been given the chance to live on—and we wouldn’t have this blessing without the sacrifices that have been made.

We can choose to panic and worry about what we can’t control. Believe me, as someone who struggled with a panic disorder for years, I know how the unknown can send you spiraling. But I also know that you can overcome it.

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on the people I’ve lost and those who have sacrificed, willingly or not, so I could live and pursue a life that would make them proud.

I’m choosing to earn it by focusing on the joyful moments with my son and cherishing the extra time I have with him right now. I’m choosing to earn it by continuing to serve others in any way I can. I’m choosing to earn it by taking care of myself and living the healthiest, happiest life possible.

How will you earn it?