When It's Hard

Annie and I are both learning new things this week. She and I discussed our challenges and we concur: Learning new things, even when they’re rewarding, can be very, very difficult—but very, very necessary to live a fulfilling life.

Personal growth is the fertile ground from which our earthly souls gain nourishment. Without it, we atrophy. Our confidence wanes and our zest for life grows dull. Without new challenges and adventures in learning, boredom stalks our heart and mind,

slowly consuming our joy for living.

If you find yourself at the end of a hard week (and you didn’t learn even one dadgum new trick) I hope you will attempt something new this weekend. Something challenging. I made a fresh batch of Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies for Annie today. We practiced “Leave It”. She aced it. Got her cookie. And we were both pleased as punch.

I, on the other hand, have a way to go with my new quest. But practice not only makes perfect, it replenishes our enthusiasm for life and our hope for success, tomorrow. Even when the payoff is not a cookie.