You can do hard things.
Sounds really simple.
Mel Robbins says it all the time, and she’s right.
But let’s not pretend it’s easy.
Hard things are… well, hard. That’s the whole point.
So what separates people who say they want more, from the ones who actually get it?
Practice.
Not once. Not when it’s convenient.
Relentlessly.
Keep doing the things that are hard until you get used to them.
Even those pesky tasks
Taxes: I handle them, and they suck, but there’s a nice return as a reward at the end. 📂
Cars: We’ve had numerous simple issues like batteries, oil changes, and emissions 🛠️
Signups: The amount of field trip slips, school dances, sports activities and extra-curriculars could drown us in paper. Thank intellects for the digital age! 🤓
None of these things are fun, but they have to get done.
Delaying them only causes more stress and anxiety.
Clearing them off your plate makes room for more activities to enjoy.
Let’s dive into a few specific examples
Ivory Instincts 🎹
Our oldest son “A” has totally excelled at all thing’s music.
He received a keyboard for Christmas 2024.
Shortly after, his school music teacher mentioned how wonderful he plays 🎼
Then asked “how long has he been playing…”
“3 months” was my response. 😱
Her jaw dropped and her neck almost snapped from the astonishment with the expression of bewilderment
She wasn’t just impressed, she was stunned 😳
“You need to feed that passion; he is extremely talented.”
She continued, “some people go to accredited musical colleges for years to learn what he is already doing” 🤩
Essentially recommending his talents as that of a prodigy, without the use of the word itself.
Within a year, he:
Performed Mozart’s Fantasia in D Minor
On a grand piano
On a high school stage
In front of a state judge
…and absolutely crushed it.
High score. First performance. No excuses. (Just barely missed out on making state)
Not too shabby 🤷🏻♂️
So what’s the secret?
Dedication and Repetition.
He practices every day
Taking any open time in our crazy schedule to sit down and play a little ditty
That same piece echoed through our house every single day for two straight months.
No shortcuts. No hacks.
Just showing up. Again and again
Pattern Recognition 🎤
This didn’t come out of nowhere.
His love for music started at a very young age.
Going above and beyond has been the standard.
Before piano, it was singing.
Early mornings for extra practice
Staying late for clubs
Pushing beyond what was required
Result?
State competitions. Back to back years.
One judge with decades of experience, said something we’ll never forget:
“You’re a dream come true.” 🤯
And he truly meant it.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
To be honest, we’re as proud as ever
But this isn’t about bragging.
It’s about proof.
The formula works:
Focus
Practice
Dedication
That’s it.
No secret playbook. No hidden advantage.
Just effort, stacked daily.
He is showing exactly what it takes to achieve your dreams
And he’s doing it on his OWN.
Because he WANTS to.
He inspires us to continue chasing our own dreams and achieve that next level.
And you can too
Game Time 🎰
When it comes down to the nitty gritty, all it takes is shear will.
There’s days you don’t feel like you have it in you.
There’s days you want to take a break and rest.
There’s days you would rather go off gallivanting.
But if you push yourself jussssssssst a bit outside your comfort zone
That’s where the magic happens.
Resulting from the constant effort, we push towards that beautiful sunset waiting in the wings.
But it only waits for those who work for it.
Those who practice not only the physical aspect, but with mental fortitude.
Practice makes perfect.
Don’t pass up your chance to shoot.
Some people tap out right before their big break.
But that’s also where results are built.
In the middle of the journey.
So when you get to the finish line, there is nothing to lament.
Inaction is the biggest regret as people get older.
Not failure. Not mistakes. 🤔
There’s a concept taught by Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks that hits hard:
People forgive their failures.
But they haunt themselves over what they never even tried.
And that weight gets heavier with time.
This is our warning to you:
Try new things.
Practice everything.
Fill your schedule with fun.
Commit to the things you love.
Most importantly, surround yourself with happiness.
Practice isn’t just about getting better.
It’s about not leaving your life half-lived.
That is the key to our limited journey on earth.
Because the “perfect moment” isn’t coming.
But progress…. that’s available today.
Just Do It ✔️
You don’t need to be elite.
You don’t need to be the best.
You just need to keep going.
Practice a little more.
Push a little further.
And see what happens.
You might surprise yourself 💫
Inspirational Quote ⚽
"Celebrate what you've accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed." - Mia Hamm
