Learning a new skill is hard. Really hard.
The last time I learned one was when my husband taught me Premier Pro. Using proper video editing software is completely different from the simple apps I was used to, like CapCut or Instagram’s built-in tools. I remember spending hours on something that would have taken me minutes before. It felt clunky. Frustrating. Honestly, learning something later in life and not getting it fast made me feel old.
I kept thinking back to college at FIT, learning Photoshop and Illustrator. That felt like unlocking new levels of a game. Logical, linear, fun. But maybe everything felt like a breeze back then because I was in my 20s and my brain was still a sponge.
Little by little though, I got the hang of Premier Pro. I like that it forces me to have all my files organized before I even start. I like the level of control I have over my edits, the precision, the ability to layer audio and color correct and make something that actually looks intentional. It is definitely not second nature, but I feel comfortable in it now. And these days it's even fun.
I am holding onto that feeling right now, because I am in week five of running Meta Ads and it is humbling me in ways I didn't expect.
To say it has been a challenge is an understatement. I know I am in the learning phase and that feeling frustrated, confused, and stuck is just part of it. But it is nerve-wracking when real dollars are tied to the outcome and the success or failure feels like it could make or break everything. There are moments where I think oh, now I see how this works, and then mornings like this one where I feel like I have absolutely no idea what I am doing.
And to make it worse, I have been spending more time on social media researching what other brands are doing, and I can't help but compare myself and feel like I am falling short. That particular spiral is not helping anyone.
Then yesterday, my 5-year old put things in perspective.
It was the first day of his hockey season. We signed him up despite knowing nothing about the sport because we felt it was the kind of environment that could teach him something important: how to find your center when everything around you is pulling for your attention. The cold. The chunky gear. The act of simply standing up on skates before even thinking about moving. The ice, the puck, the teammates, all of it at once.
He got on the ice and slipped immediately. All the beginners were crowded together on their hands and knees, just trying to figure out how to stand. And there he was, doing his best, falling over and over again. Ten minutes before practice ended, he skated over and said he was done and wanted to go home. My husband and I looked at each other. Practice was almost over, but we both knew that pulling him out would set a bad precedent. So we told him: you need to finish class. You can sit on the ice for the remaining time if you want, but you will finish with your teammates. And that is what he did.
On the walk home, my husband and I talked about why we actually put him in hockey in the first place. We are not looking to raise a pro player. What we want is for him to learn how to show up and stay focused when everything around him is loud and distracting. And having fun! No pressure. Just consistency, follow through, and finding his footing one practice at a time.
Well, that lesson is mine too.
I am good at showing up. I am good at following through. But learning something new while having fun, without putting myself under enormous pressure? Staying focused while social media keeps reminding me how far behind I feel? All the while actual dollars are on the line... This is going to be one of the harder lessons for me. But I know it to be true. The best things in my life have arrived when I was in a state of ease, not when I was desperately chasing them. My husband. My children. Even KAEIU, which was born from a decision to chase something that brought me genuine joy.
So that is the reminder I am carrying into this week. Whatever new thing you are learning, yes, it is going to be hard. It is supposed to be. But I hope you lean into the fun and see where it takes you.
With love,
Maria
No pressure. Just show up and find your footing. Easier said than done, but he is a good reminder.