Heroes Don't Always Wear Spandex

You started. You actually started.

That thing you’ve been thinking about for months—maybe years—you finally took the first step toward it. And for a little while, it felt good. It felt possible.

Then… something happened. Maybe it was a bad day. Maybe your mind flipped on you, throwing doubt and exhaustion in your face. Maybe you don’t even know what changed, but suddenly, all that momentum is gone.

And now, here you are, stuck and feeling overwhelmed. Again.

You start telling yourself the same old story: I never follow through. I always give up. What’s the point?

And maybe worst of all? No one around you even seems to notice how hard you’re trying. Your closest friends don’t acknowledge your progress. You reached a milestone of success and now here you are struggling, and their silence makes it feel like none of it even mattered.

But it does matter.

Just because today feels heavy doesn’t mean you haven’t moved forward. Just because you lost momentum doesn’t mean you failed.

Plato said something like: Never dismiss how far a person has come. A step forward, no matter how small, is still a step forward.

So don’t let today’s feeling define you. You are not your worst thoughts. You are not your setbacks. You are someone who keeps going.

And when you feel stuck—when the weight of it all threatens to pull you under—try not to panic. Remember: when you’re caught in quicksand, frantic struggle only sinks you deeper, faster. Breathe. Steady yourself. And pull yourself out, slowly, deliberately, one movement at a time.

The great African writer, Aesop, in one of his fables said it well: Slow and steady wins the race.

If you have kids, watch their eyes. Listen when they talk to their friends about you, thinking you’re not paying attention. They are proud of your accomplishments. They see you push forward, even when you slow down. They see you excited, and they see you frustrated. And that’s what sticks—not just the wins, but the fact that you keep going.

Let them see that gratification isn’t always instant. They’re there for the highs when you’re fired up with enthusiasm, and they’re there for the lows when you’re grumbling and tearing your hair out. Let them see it all—the real process, not some scripted, polished version of success. This is real life, not reality TV.

Kids or no kids, fur-babies or not - even if you are flying solo, celebrate your victories, they are not trivial.  You are making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it. And you, my friend are not a failure. Not even close. You are a warrior.