Learning something new is hard. It doesn’t matter if you’re three years old or thirty, stepping into unfamiliar territory has a way of humbling you quickly.
Right now, we’re in the thick of potty training. There are accidents, triumphs, setbacks, and a whole lot of wiping. Some days it feels like we’ve got it figured out, and the next, we’re back to square one with a puddle (or worse) on the floor and tears (not always just the toddler’s). It’s messy, it’s frustrating, and it’s also a perfect mirror of what it’s like to grow.
We tend to forget what it feels like to be bad at something. As adults, we build our lives around things we’ve already learned—how to type, how to drive, how to meet deadlines or balance a budget. So when we do encounter something new, the discomfort can feel unbearable. But that’s where the real work happens. Whether it’s squatting under a barbell at the gym or learning a new language, progress rarely comes in a straight line. You fail, you adjust, you try again.
Potty training is teaching me more than just how many changes of pants to pack. It’s reminding me that grace matters. That progress can look like two steps forward and one (very wet) step back. It’s showing me that there’s value in sticking with something even when it’s frustrating and slow. Because on the other side of the struggle is growth—independence, confidence, and a little more freedom.
Just like in the gym, consistency is everything. You don’t get stronger by showing up once. You get stronger by returning to the work, even when your muscles ache and your motivation is low. You do the reps. You clean up the mess. You celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and you keep going. Because this is life—one hard-earned skill at a time.
So wherever you are—on the bathroom floor cheering on a tiny human, standing at the bottom of a steep learning curve, or sweating through a workout that feels impossible—remember this: it’s okay for it to be hard. Hard is part of it. Hard is how you know it’s working.
Have a great week.
We’ll see you in the gym!
Whitney