🌱 Grit, Determination & the Courage to Keep Going

This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend The Run For A Million and watch some incredible athletes compete in the Reining Challenge, Cutting Horse Challenge, Youth Reining Challenge, Youth Cow Horse Challenge, and Breakaway Roping Showcase. The horses were beautiful, the horsemanship was incredible, and the competition was exciting—but what stayed with me most wasn't who won. It was the grit, determination, and hard work behind every ride.

Behind every competitor are countless hours that no one sees. Early mornings, long days, mistakes, disappointments, practice after practice, and probably plenty of moments when things simply didn't go as planned. Yet they keep showing up, keep learning, keep practicing, and keep reaching toward their goals.

Watching these competitors reminded me so much of the students I work with at My Learning Farm. For a child who struggles with reading, writing, spelling, or math, learning can sometimes feel like training for a big competition. They may watch another student do something easily while they have to work twice as hard. They may practice a skill over and over and still struggle to remember it. They may become frustrated or discouraged—and then they try again. That is grit.

🌱 Grit Doesn't Mean "Just Try Harder"

I think sometimes we misunderstand grit. Grit isn't about telling a child who is struggling to simply "try harder." Children need the right instruction, meaningful support, achievable goals, and people who believe in them. When we give children the tools they need to experience success, we help them develop the confidence to keep going when something is difficult.

We can also help children understand that mistakes are part of learning. Progress isn't always a giant leap forward. More often, it's one small step followed by another and another. Learning to recognize those little victories helps children see that their hard work is making a difference.

❤️ Keep Reaching

One of the greatest gifts we can give children is the understanding that struggling with something today does not determine what they will be capable of tomorrow. At My Learning Farm, I get to watch those moments happen—the word a student finally decodes, the paragraph they didn't think they could write, the multiplication fact that finally sticks, or that wonderful moment when a child realizes, "I can do hard things."

Whether you're sitting in a classroom, working at the kitchen table, practicing in an arena, or learning here on the farm, growth takes time. Keep practicing. Keep learning. Keep showing up. Keep reaching toward the things you love.

Because sometimes the most important victory isn't the ribbon, the buckle, the grade, or the finish line. It's becoming the kind of person who keeps going when the road gets hard. 🌱🐴❤️