There is a saying in the Army that Soldiers often mutter to one another. When the going gets tough, really tough, Embrace the Suck!
The phrase might sound crass to uninitiated ears, but the meaning is important. The phrase is a game-changer. An emotional trigger. A psychological hack that helps a Soldier carry on, to push harder, and complete the mission.
Up until now, this phrase has always resonated with physical pain, exhaustion, and living on a mountain in Afghanistan with limited supplies while not taking a shower for over 60 days.
That is until I started blacksmithing.
When you’ve spent a lifetime learning and perfecting a skill or trade, it’s easy to forget that once upon a time you were terrible at it. Once upon a time, you had to start from the beginning.
I’ve forgotten these growing pains. I’ve forgotten how to fail fearlessly.
Blacksmithing has helped me remember. Failure is okay. It’s necessary.
