“I can do it.” These simple words carry an incredible weight, shaping character and preparing young boys to navigate life’s inevitable challenges. In an age where instant gratification and constant comfort are readily available, instilling grit and resilience in our sons has never been more important.
My father taught me this lesson when I was young, and recently, I had the privilege of watching him pass it down to another generation at a Trail Life USA Manly Man event in Texas. It was a day that perfectly embodied what grit looks like in the youngest among us.
The forecast that day was grim: rain, and lots of it. As we pulled into the field where the event was held, the sky was a curtain of gray, and the air smelled of wet grass and adventure. My dad, ever the optimist, chuckled and said, “Well, this’ll be a day worth talking about!” I grinned ruefully, thinking surely the event would be canceled. But what unfolded surprised us all.
Boys ages 5-12, decked out in red, blue, and yellow slickers, hopped out of cars with eager faces. What could have been a dreary, miserable day turned into something beautiful. These little boys didn’t see obstacles; they saw puddles—puddles that were meant to be jumped into with joy. They hopped from tent to tent, their raincoats gleaming like bright spots of hope against the gloomy backdrop.
Despite the relentless downpour, they threw themselves into every activity with determination. Archery, knot-tying, relay races—it didn’t matter that everything was wet and muddy. There were no complaints, no “I’m cold” or “I’m bored.” Instead, there were cheers of “I can do it!” and bursts of laughter as they navigated the challenges before them.
I was struck by their resilience, but even more so by their joy. Resilience is not just about enduring; it’s about thriving in the midst of discomfort. These boys weren’t enduring the rain; they were embracing it. Their unyielding energy reminded me of my own childhood, standing next to my dad in the rain, learning to push past temporary discomfort for the sake of something greater.
The lesson was clear: grit doesn’t come from perfect conditions. It’s forged in moments like these, where discomfort meets determination. It’s in hearing the rain pounding on your hood and deciding to step out anyway. It’s in getting soaked to the skin and still choosing to laugh. It’s in saying, “I can do it,” and believing it, even when the circumstances suggest otherwise.
As parents, we need to give our boys opportunities to experience moments like this—moments where resilience is required, and comfort is secondary. Too often, we shield our kids from difficulty, thinking we’re protecting them. But the truth is, they need the rain. They need to jump in puddles, to slip in the mud, to fall and get back up. They need to know what it feels like to say, “I can do it,” and then do it.
That rainy day in Texas wasn’t just about activities; it was about character. Those boys left with more than wet clothes and muddy boots. They left with a taste of what it means to persevere. They left with smiles that said, “We did it.”
And as I stood there, watching my dad cheer on these pint-sized men, I realized that grit isn’t just a lesson we teach once. It’s a legacy we pass down, rainstorm by rainstorm, one “I can do it” at a time.
In a world that often seeks comfort first, let’s raise boys who seek courage. Let’s give them the gift of grit, so that when the storms of life come, they’ll know exactly what to do.