Doing Hard Things

Whether it was dropping out of university to follow a career in internet programming or launching my first start up with no money in the bank. I have always enjoyed doing hard things. Perhaps it's the optimism that is the muscle I have and the determination to achieve it? Who knows!!

And then on the physical side, I would always run difficult hills and sign up to races, all to challenge myself to do better.

One of the most difficult things was probably moving my wife and boys from Sydney to NY and setting up our lives here. The challenges to overcome to not only move but more importantly integrate the 6 of us was very difficult, from the practical aspect of friendships, to getting integrated into the US system for schools, credit, tax and visa processing. Never fun but as they say, often worth it.

I could likely share more hard things I’ve done but that’s not the intent here - what I’m more focused on here is doing hard things with the kids. I want them to also be challenged and work through issues so that hard things can be overcome. I want them to know that the overcoming and succeeding part of the “hard thing” is ALWAYS worth it. Doesn’t mean the result is what you wanted.?

This past weekend myself, Ben (my 17-year-old) and 2 amazing friends completed the Spartan Beast race in North Carolina. For those of you that don't know what that is, it's a grueling 15-mile, 30 obstacle race. With mud, steep elevations, climbing, crawling and anything else you can think of that a difficult race may include. We did it in 4 hours 30 mins and outside the endless cramps over the last few miles, it was incredible.?

It's a wonderful parallel with life - you have some idea of the obstacles, but you don’t know which ones will appear where. It's about working through it and overcoming them all. Then before you know it (and without knowing), you have a new hill and a new set of challenges.

Doing this race with Ben this past weekend is one of the many times that a person's determination, focus and resolve will be tested. When in the moment, you’re questioning everything. Is it worth it? Why am I doing this? Am I crazy? Can I quit? But then you see others around you working hard, you somehow find the mental and physical energy to overcome it.?

In the moment life sucks but when you get through it, you feel amazing and proud of what you’ve achieved!!!? He did it and I am so so proud. Very few humans could/would do this let along a 17-year-old.??

Our kids will endure hard things in their lives, and I want them to feel encouraged that it's a part of life and to believe in themselves when they’re in it. Complaining and sharing frustrations is part of it, and not veering off course or quitting. That is not an option.?

All my boys have done Spartan races, and Michy (my wife) did her first in June. I look forward to the race that we all do together - the 6 of us, but everyone needs to be 14 for that to happen - in 2025.

Having said that, we are one team as a family but at the same time, we each run our own race in life.

Hard things are often thrown at each of us often when we least expect it and I’d like things like this to build the mental muscle that anything can be overcome, including life's obstacles (physically and metaphorically).

Doing hard things is part of life and building that bravery and mental resolve to overcome any and all of them, no matter what, is what makes life worth living.