It’s difficult, but can be very rewarding when you are able to get those who aren’t naturally-gifted to have to work hard at acquiring their skills. Adversity builds character. And that serves these kids in other aspects of their lives, outside of the sport.

To me, ultimately, the gym is a microcosm of life; a battlefield to hone one’s spirit, learn about oneself, and cultivate coping mechanisms for dealing with life.

The kids had better learn about it and get used to it.

Another life lesson is to not avoid the areas that you are not a “super star” in.

I think some schools and parents have been raising children in a self-esteem bubble, sheltered from hurt feelings. Later in life, this comes back to “bite them”, as they’ve been inadequately prepared for the hard knox of the real world that doesn’t concern itself with handing out 9th place ribbons. Learning life’s lessons early on can spare a child much damage as an adult. Being protective is a service; being overly protective, a disservice. It’s like how obsessed society became with anti-bacterial soap and products. It would appear that this “overkill” of protection weakens our children, because their bodies are never exposed at an early age to certain germs that under normal circumstances, had they been exposed, their bodies’ immune systems would have developed much stronger for being subjected to the germs.