For the past four years, my dear friend and I have had a tradition of walking the Lake Geneva shore path to admire the trees, gasp at how the other half lives and just catch up on life. Last year we made it 12 miles and thought we were pretty amazing. This year, my friend joked about doing the entire path, which comes out to roughly 21.6 miles. Twenty-one point six miles of winding trail, rocky stairs, uneven terrain, and countless “private property” signs, because clearly we need more reminders that the $12+ million homes do not belong to us. Anyway, upon her suggestion, I immediately said no way, but we could play it by ear.

Our scheduled date came, and it was a beautiful day. We met up early, mapped out the bathroom stops and took off walking. About five miles in, we both felt pretty good. Nothing was hurting, and we dove into our first snack. By mile ten, my hip was definitely starting to dislike our quest. By mile sixteen, every joint below my waist was hurting. But at this point, it was like we had a mutual understanding that we didn’t come this far just to quit now – we had to keep going. And we did – mostly fueled by snacks, endless laughter, and the fear of disappointing each other.

The last two miles were pretty much a blur. We were racing against the setting sun, and by the time we finally finished, we were limping, slap happy, yet deliriously proud. And even though our bodies were begging for an ice bath and a chiropractor, we couldn’t stop smiling. Because here’s the thing: we can do hard things — even when they’re uncomfortable, even when they hurt, and even when halfway through, we start seriously regretting our life choices.

It’s so easy to live in our comfort zones. Comfort is cozy, predictable, and doesn’t usually come with screaming joints. But when we stay there too long, life gets smaller. Growth happens when we push ourselves — when we take on something that scares us, challenges us, or tests our limits.

Doing hard things builds mental toughness and confidence, not just physical strength. It teaches us that we can handle discomfort, uncertainty, and that annoyingly overpowering voice in our head that loves to whisper, “You can’t.” But you know what – we CAN. And every time we do something difficult, we prove that voice wrong.

Sometimes, that challenge looks like walking 21.6 miles with sore joints just to remind yourself that you’re stronger (mentally and physically) than you think. Or sometimes it’s taking the time to learn a new skill, even when you’re not the best at it; or saying yes to something that scares you. Or maybe it’s as simple as continuing to show up consistently even after the motivation fades. Whatever it is, and whether we are successful or not, it’s the simple act of doing hard things that helps build our confidence and ultimately our abilities.

As parents we spend so much time verbally encouraging our kids to try new things, to keep practicing, to not give up when something feels hard. But sometimes the best lesson we can give them isn’t by our words, but by our own examples and actions. When they actually see us working through our own challenges, they learn that hard things are worth doing. Through our struggles, they see that effort matters. That discomfort (like not being able to walk for a few days) is temporary. They see that growth comes through grit. They don’t just hear us saying “You can do hard things,” – because let’s be real, do they even really even listen to us? But now through our own examples, they believe it because they have the proof of us actually living through it.

One of the best parts about that long, slightly ridiculous walk was having my friend by my side. It wasn’t just about finishing that made it worthwhile, it was the process. The memories we made that day — the deep talks, the jokes, the shared sense of “Did we really just do that and why?” — all that will outlive the temporary pain in our joints (at least we sure hope so!)

So the next time you’re faced with a challenge, think twice before you shy away. Embrace it. Remind yourself, and your kids, that growth and comfort rarely coexist. You are capable of more than you think. And yes, we can do hard things.