I hope that, for those of you who read ‘Do Hard Things’ this month, it was as interesting and inspiring for all of you as it was for me when I first read it.
This book presented challenges teenagers with doing 5 kinds of hard things:
1. Things that are outside your comfort zone.
“These actions can challenge us because they are unfamiliar or even scary, but they usually become some of our greatest memories.”
2. Things that go beyond what is expected or required.
“These actions are hard because they rest entirely on our own initiative.”
3. Things that are too big to accomplish alone.
“We’re passionate about these because God has placed them on our hearts.”
4. Things that don’t earn an immediate payoff.
“They’re hard because you won’t see much progress from one day to the next and because, especially at the time, it can seem like you’d be happier if your didn’t do them.”
5. Things that challenge the cultural norm.
“These choices are hard because they can cost your popularity and friendships…But the payoff is huge: if we do them, we can change the course of history.”
from here
Instead of posting questions, I’m going to ask you all if you were convicted or encouraged by this book. If so, then in what ways?
I’m also going to direct you to this link where you can download the official study guide for free.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
What I loved about ‘Do Hard Things’ was that it inspired me to live the title. Actually, this site was result of the mind-set it created in me. The book encouraged me to seek God and grow in Him during these years of my life and break the stereotype that it so often pushed onto teenagers today.
Do Hard Things!
Cassie
I loved reading this book! I’m not actually finished yet because we are reading it with my church group but I love what I’m already read (more than half) because it is challenging me to go “above and beyond the world’s expectations. I also love that it is written by teens for teens! Makes me feel like it’s more well, possible because someone my age has already done it!
My comment for Do Hard Things is that it’s real. The Teens that wrote it (they’re in their 20′s now) really did do hard things. I know the Harris family and I just wanted to say that it’s for real – it’s not as if they say it but don’t do it – they do.
Also, could all of you ladies please pray for the family? I don’t know how I could handle it if my mom died, and they really have to live it up with doing hard things due to the loss of their dear and wonderful mother.
2 Cor. 6:4-10
Amen, Libby! We should all remember to keep their family in our prayers… the LORD is their strength, but it is most certainly a hard time for them all.
Romans 8:28
-Cassie
I’d have to say that it’s real for me every time I read it. (I’ve now read it three times) I’m always encouraged to do exactly what the title dares all who read it to really and truely do hard things. To me this book is a fresh gulp of air in a sea of low expectations that the world trys to drown us all in. But in that sea some of us are learning to swin.
I read this book when I was 18. Honestly, it made me cry. A good kind of cry, though! As I read it, I looked back at my own teenage years and realized I had wasted them. Instead of living for God, I wasted my life trying to fit in with the crowd. Public school was a nightmare, especially high school. All the pressure to measure up to society’s standards and want to be accepted by people who would forget me after graduation. It’s absolute nonsense. I was not as strong in my beliefs then as I am now. So when I read Do Hard Things, with all those teenagers doing amazing things and making a difference, it made me wish I would have done something like that. But it’s never too late! I may not be a teenager anymore, but I’m a lot wiser and I can still use my time to make a difference.
All that to say I really enjoyed this book and the sequel, “Start Here” which I reviewed here.
Sadly, since this month was a very hard one for my family, I did not read Do Hard Things. I am still dying to however, and maybe after I read it will come back and answer the question. I am glad to hear that it inspired and encouraged you ladies!
Until He Returns,
Brianna
Wow, this book is powerful! I did not own it, so my Mum bought it for me because we had a long drive ahead of us (to Melbourne, in fact) and as soon as we all piled back into the car, the book was passed to Dad, he didnt hand it back for about half an hour, and with some misgivings becuase of the people who had indorsed it, I started reading. It wasnt long before I was reading aloud, everyone listened, and begged for more when I got hoarse!
(Please forgive my little anecdote!)
I was really convicted in reading this book that I was not Doing Hard Things! Although to outsiders it looked it and I was above most people’s standards, I realised I was not fulfilling my God given potential, that I could be doing better but instead I found my self procrastinating and telling my self that rushed is ok ‘I’ll be fine because I am already above standard’. I cant believe that I let my self think this!
I was reading the other day and I came across the story of the girl who allowed herself to float on the ‘above standard’ level she was at, and I thought ‘That is me, that is exactly what I do’. I look at my friends (christian and worldly) and think that they really, really need to read this book, all teens should read this.
Anyway these are my thoughts, I have not finished this book, in fact I am only half way through. And I dont think I will be ‘finished’ till I read it five times fully.