There’s a weird comfort in routine. Waking up, brewing coffee, packing lunches, answering emails, dodging LEGOs rinse and repeat. But every now and then, life throws something heavy at us. Or maybe, if you’re like me, you throw something heavy at yourself on purpose.

Why? Because doing hard things changes you.

Whether it’s biking across Iowa for RAGBRAI, or navigating the emotional landmine that is parenting a toddler, hard things build something no Amazon order can deliver: grit.

But let me be real doing hard things sucks in the moment.

Hard things don’t come with a Spotify playlist and gentle lighting. They come with sweat, discomfort, and doubt. They show up when you’re already tired, when your patience is thin, and when the easy way out is whispering sweet nothings in your ear. But it’s in those moments the messy, unfiltered, gritty ones where we grow.

Why It Matters as a Dad

Our kids are always watching. Not just when we win, but especially when we struggle. When they see us keep pedaling up a hill we want to quit on, or admit when we’re scared but try anyway, they’re learning. They’re seeing that strength isn’t just in our arms it’s in our attitude.

One of the best gifts we can give our kids is the example of persistence. Not perfection. Not pretending we’ve got it all figured out. Just showing up and doing the damn thing, even when it’s hard.

The Lie of Comfort

Comfort is easy. It’s Netflix. It’s skipping the workout. It’s staying quiet when you should speak up. But comfort won’t give you the life you want. It won’t make you proud. And it sure won’t show your kids how to be brave.

Hard things reveal who we are and who we can become.

So, What’s Your “Hard Thing”?

Maybe it’s getting to therapy. Maybe it’s going back to school. Maybe it’s just asking for help. Your hard thing doesn’t need to be public, or impressive, or Instagram-worthy. It just has to stretch you. If it makes you uncomfortable, good. That’s the point.

Because on the other side of hard is growth.

On the other side of hard is confidence.

And on the other side of hard… is the person you’re becoming.

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Stay strong, stay dadly.
—Jesse, The Dadly One