I have been doing or attempting CrossFit and similar classes for about a year-and-a-half. 

While I am getting stronger and have lost some weight, several of the exercises remain very challenging for me. I would say that the "Olympic" lifts - e.g., the "clean" and the "snatch" - have been particularly character-building experiences.

Perhaps an analogy will help. Some days, one could describe my working on a given Olympic lift the way one might characterize a complex puzzle with all the pieces suddenly thrown up in the air. That is, while you conceptually get that everything needed is there and could conceivably come together, you don't get the sense that it will happen any time soon.

And despite all this, I set a "PR" (personal record) for my clean a few days ago. Not a great lift number among most men in the gym by any stretch of the imagination, and even for some of the women, but great for me, and that is the only person I am ultimately competing against.

And as any good father would do - I tell my kids when I set a PR. I want them to know that the victories do come.

In addition, the owners of the Athletic Lab gym I go to send all members a postcard whenever they attain a new PR - because they want their members to know that victories do come, and to receive a tangible reminder of their progress.

I have kept each one of those milestone victory cards.

Resilience and respecting the process it is.