The Importance of Doing Hard Shit

by Adam from Hoof & Beak Health

The idea came to me while I was out in the field, shoveling llama and sheep shit into a trailer. Literal shit. It’s not exactly fun work. No one gets excited to pick up a shovel and scoop steaming piles of manure in the wind.

But it’s necessary. That manure becomes compost. That compost feeds our soil. And that soil grows the food that feeds our family.

It’s part of a bigger cycle—dirty, humbling, and completely essential.

And while I was out there, boots sunk into frozen mud, shoveling for what felt like hours, I found myself thinking about how important it is that we do hard things. Not just once in a while—but regularly.

For our bodies. For our minds. For our emotional well-being. For our kids. For our families.
And for the kind of people we want to become.

I Didn’t Grow Up With This

I didn’t grow up on a farm. I grew up in the city. I played sports. I helped my dad with Ottawa Hoop, which was physical and hands-on. I learned discipline, effort, teamwork.

But I didn’t grow up baling hay or moving cows before school. I’ve heard stories from people who did—kids who spent their summers and weekends doing hard, physical labor. No excuses. No shortcuts. When it’s hay season, you work.

That kind of upbringing builds something deep: a quiet confidence, a durable work ethic, a kind of resilience that sticks with you. And honestly? I’m a little envious of that.

So I chose it.

Now, in my 40s, I’m working physically harder than I ever have—by choice.

We’ve got 100 acres. Livestock to care for. Food to grow. And a life to live that most people today would consider unnecessary.

Why would you farm if you don’t have to?
Why shovel shit when you could buy compost?
Why grow food when you could just go to the store?

Here’s why:
Because doing hard things keeps you alive.

Not just breathing. Alive.

Comfort Is Overrated

Modern life is engineered for ease. Everything is faster, softer, more convenient. You can order groceries from your phone, outsource your chores, stream your entertainment, and live a life that’s 99% friction-free.

And yet—depression, anxiety, fatigue, lack of purpose… they’re all at all-time highs.

We weren’t meant to live without struggle.
We weren’t built to coast.

Challenge is what keeps us sharp.
And resilience doesn’t come from ease—it comes from effort.

What Doing Hard Shit Actually Builds

When you choose hard things, you don’t just build muscle. You build character.
You build discipline. Confidence. Emotional regulation. Mental grit.

You train your nervous system to stay calm under pressure.
You train your brain to keep going when it wants to quit.
You train your body to carry the weight—literally and metaphorically.

And when your kids see you choosing hard things? They learn something far more valuable than any lecture could offer.

What Counts as “Hard Shit”?

You don’t have to move to a farm or join a CrossFit gym. (Though we happen to love both.)
What matters is that you do something that tests you.

Something that pushes your limits. That stretches you. That makes you wonder, even for a second, “Can I finish this?”

Here are a few examples:

• A hike that takes longer than expected
  
  

• Lifting something heavy when you’re tired
  
  

• A cold plunge or cold shower
  
  

• Getting up early to work out, even when no one’s watching
  
  

• Starting the project you’ve been avoiding
  
  

• Having the tough conversation you’ve been putting off
  
  

• Failing publicly and trying again anyway
  
  

If it makes you uncomfortable—it’s worth doing.

Failure Is the Point

Let’s talk about failure.
We’ve been conditioned to avoid it at all costs. School punishes it. Jobs fear it. Social media mocks it.

But the truth is, failure is not the enemy.
Failure is feedback. Failure is the training ground.
It’s how you learn what works.
It’s how you grow strong.

If you’re not failing sometimes, you’re not trying hard enough.

The goal isn’t to get it right every time. The goal is to go far enough out of your comfort zone that you might not get it right. And then to come back again, smarter and stronger.

That’s real growth.

This Is a Practice—Not a One-Time Deal

Doing one hard thing isn’t enough.
You don’t build resilience with a single tough workout or by surviving one hard season.

This is a lifestyle.
It’s a practice.

Just like strength training, if you want to stay strong, you have to keep showing up—and the resistance has to increase.

You need progressive overload.
Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.

The second life gets too easy for too long, you start to soften. You lose your edge. You forget what you’re capable of.

And then, when something really hard shows up—loss, injury, crisis, change—you’re not ready.

But if you’ve been practicing, if you’ve been intentionally choosing discomfort, testing your limits, failing, and trying again? Then you meet life’s challenges head-on.

The Bottom Line

If you’re not testing yourself, you’re not growing.
And if you’re not growing—you’re dying.

So shovel the shit.
Lift the heavy thing.
Go on the hike.
Start the thing you’ve been afraid of.
Let yourself fail. Learn. Show up again.

Not because you have to.
But because the value is in the choosing.

That’s why we do hard shit.
Because that’s where real life begins.

Want support building that kind of strength—physically, mentally, and emotionally?
We live this out every day, and we’ve built programs rooted in this mindset. Come train with us, visit the farm, or check out Our Services to learn more.

We’re here to help you move well, live well—and grow into the strongest version of yourself.