Doing Hard Things

"I DID IT!"

I just have to say, if I could be OCD about one thing, it would be the need to exercise.
That would be just amazing.

I've done it before; I've been obsessed with doing things that were difficult, but good for me.
When I was a young high-schooler, I arose every morning at 4:30 to make Coach Vaughn's grueling 5:15 a.m. swim practices. On Saturdays, those practices were at 8am. I, (along with my supportive parents who had to drive me to the pool) woke up every morning without hesitation to be to the pool on time. Those were tiring years, but my time and effort paid off. I was part of a team that needed me. There was much expected of me from each of the members of the relay team. We were good. If I didn't show up for practice, or give my all during a practice, hard as it may have been, I would be letting myself down as well as my team. Some days it was very difficult to pull it together in my mind to make the swim count, but in the end, I really learned to master my mind and visualize the perfect time, the perfect workout, the perfect stroke, and the perfect winning race.

In those four years of swimming I came away with more than just champion times, but an appreciation for hard work, commitment, comradeship, winning, losing and goal setting.  I learned that I could do hard things.

Since the year 2000, I have done other hard things.
I fell in and out of shape.
I worked three jobs at the same time while in school to make ends meet.
I served an LDS Mission.
I dated. (hardest ever!)
I bore my children naturally.
I opened up to a stranger to make a new friend.
I changed some bad habits and replaced with good habits.
I ran a few races.
I endured emotional hardship.
I tried something new.
I practiced patience.

We have all done hard things in this life. It is what builds our character. At times it is easier to crawl back into bed where it is comfortable, warm and familiar. It is this "doing hard things" that I wish to teach to my children. I don't believe that it is ever too early to teach our children the value (and fun) of work. There is not a time that is better than others to be an example of persistence and success. Or giving up and failing. (Which ever it is, our children see it.)

Recently, Natalie and I headed over to a playground near my parents condo. This is the Mother of all playgrounds, with many challenging, fun apparatuses. Children old and young alike can climb, spin, slide, balance, twirl, run, swing and jump. It is a fabulous playground!
There were lots of children there playing, and Natalie was energized by the happy sounds and great weather. She amazed me by climbing up a rope ladder, to the top and then down again without blinking. I heard the children around her saying "look, the baby is doing it!" (she is pretty small!) I was thrilled with her performance, which she saw. We then headed over to the rock climbing wall where older children were only just attempting to climb. She very directly requested that I give her a lift to the lowest toe holds and then she'd climb the rest of the way up. I was a little nervous for her, but did as she asked and helped her steady herself as she confidently scaled the 8-10 foot (not sure, my perception was skewed looking UP) wall without any hesitation. Honestly, she did it all by herself. I was standing below her poised, ready to catch her if she fell (she was too high for me to actually have a hold on her!). When she got to the top, she continued to pull herself up and over onto the ledge and stood up. I was floored at her performance! She looked at me and with arms in the air yelled, "I DID IT!"

This is the just the beginning of my child understanding that she can do hard things! And that the reward for such accomplishments are immeasurable. It is something I hope she continues to do throughout her life. If I continue to believe in her abilities and push her to try new things, not barring her way, she will excel in so many of her own life's individual events.

I often reflect on my own experiences that were difficult, but worth it. I know I can do hard things because I have done them. They are my life's journeys to who I am. And whatever is to come, I welcome the challenge and growth that will follow!