Category: Opinions & Voices

If grit were easy, we’d all be sipping umbrella drinks on a beach instead of wrestling with IKEA instructions or middle school slang. But as Julie Adamic reminds us—with humor, heart, and a dash of dark chocolate—grit and growth mindset aren’t just buzzwords. They’re teachable, livable, and essential. In this refreshingly honest piece, Adamic shares practical strategies for helping kids (and adults) build resilience, embrace mistakes, and stick with the hard stuff. From “What I Messed Up Today” dinner chats to grit charts and victory journals, she offers a toolbox full of real-life wisdom. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just someone trying not to burn the lasagna again, this post will leave you inspired to say, “I can’t do it… yet.”

Machines now select military targets. Children die in classrooms. Political leaders are assassinated in public forums. This is not a map of isolated tragedies—it’s a portrait of moral erosion. In a nation where 18% of adults now believe violence is acceptable to advance political goals, the question is no longer whether we are in decline. The question is whether we can still recognize it.