Doing Hard Things (and Why Spontaneity Wins Sometimes)


Hey you,

This week was a mix of stress, inspiration, and those little family moments that end up mattering most. Between deadlines at work, wrestling with my morning routine, and trying to carve out time for workouts — my brain has been stretched thinnnnn. But the theme of the week? Doing hard things and giving yourself room to be spontaneous.

One Thing to Think About This Week

We are all capable of more than we give ourselves credit for.

While on the treadmill this week, I watched a video of people running the hardest race on earth. One woman, battling ovarian cancer, finished dead last — but she finished. Sheeeeet. It made my 4.5 miles feel lighter, almost electric. If she can do that, what are we capable of?

Celebrate Your Wins

  • I committed to Vlogtober: one vlog every day in October. Simplicity and consistency are the goal. This is big for me because I’ve always been great at starting, not so great at finishing. This time, I’m in it for the long haul. Even while traveling to Colorado this month, the uploads will keep coming.
  • Zane: my boy who ran his first mile in June — just completed a 31-mile ultra. Unreal. Proof that small starts lead to insane milestones. We were sending him texts and audio messages to help route him on from afar.
  • Running: I pictured my 4.5-mile run outside — cool weather, good views, the whole vibe. But then we randomly decided to hit the Austin Zoo instead. Family > fitness in that moment. The cool part? I still got my 4.5 miles in later that night. At 8 p.m., treadmill on, YouTube queued up as my “reward.” Sometimes the win isn’t about sticking to the exact plan — it’s about finding a way to make both things happen.

Productivity Hack of the Week

Spontaneity is underrated.

Sometimes a dialed-in plan feels forced when there’s something you’d rather be doing. The hack? Ask yourself the real question. Is skipping this plan just avoidance, or is it trading for something better? Example: skipping a workout to sit around = nope. But swapping a half-productive day at home for a spontaneous zoo trip with the family = 100% worth it.

What I’m Into This Week

  • App: Rosebud - basically a journalist that talks back. Why not? Write our your daily journal and get feedback to help you dive deeper into your thoughts.
  • Creator: Average Rob - pushes limits with wild challenges, reminding me how fun it is to just try hard things. Check out his channel for a fun, energetic vibe with challenges.
  • Podcast: Rob Dial - How Journaling will literally change your life. Seriously…. It’s 16 minutes long, just listen to it. 🙂

Life Snapshot

We had a wholesome, spontaneous day — zoo trip, ice cream and yogurt, then dinner where Ledger demolished nearly an entire big kid’s meal. (This boy can eat. Seriously.) These are the little resets that make the chaos feel worth it.

One Last Thing

Hard things are rarely about the task itself — they’re about what they prove to you. You’re capable of more than you think. Sometimes it just takes showing up, even when it’s tough, to remind yourself of that.

Fun P.S.

We woke up, checked the weather, checked the drive time to the Austin Zoo — and 15 minutes later we were out the door. Ledger was in heaven. He pointed out every animal… and also every trash can (kid’s obsessed). The highlight? Riding the train, wind in his face, giggling nonstop. Absolutely priceless.

🔥 If you haven’t already, subscribe to my YouTube — I’m posting every single day in October for Vlogtober. Let’s see if I can make it to 1,000 subs (and beyond to 5,000 by year’s end). Join me here: Youtube

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P.S. Want more? You can view all Newsletter posts here. Interested what my 1:1 coaching looks like? Check out my website transformwithtrina.com

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Transform with Trina

Creator & Coach passionate about helping you simplify life and make progress that sticks. I share practical tips and stories to inspire joy and fulfillment. Click subscribe to join in on the journey!

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