Ouch is the way forward

Moving forward, leveling up, extending beyond, rising above.

They all require you to say “ouch” a lot. Pain separates the amateurs from the professionals. Without pain, it’d be impossible to tell the two apart. Pain is not fun, but it is necessary.

And yet, we (as in the United States) continually find more ways to help people avoid pain. To dull the oncoming pain if not attempt to reroute completely around it.

I’m not advocating for physical or mental abuse. But I think I am advocating for mental and physical anguish.

Let’s spend k-6 teaching the mental precepts necessary to endure anguish. Then 7–12 can be a long period of anguish. That anguish can guide us toward the ideas and beliefs that we are willing and able to endure a lifetime of anguish.

A citizenry that’s focused on the pain they can tolerate is a citizenry that has absolutely no limits.

No pain, no gain.