I’ll skip the introduction 🚀 :

Think of your proficiency in your target language as a not-so-full salt shaker. You do everything you can to fill it up, but it just feels impossible.

Now, imagine every moment you spend with the language as a grain of salt you’re adding to the shaker. Maybe it’s not just one grain — maybe it’s two or three. Those grains might seem like they make no difference, but that’s just at first glance. Your “feels-like-nothing” additions are actually raising your proficiency — even if you can’t see it.

Then there are those times when, instead of a few grains, you throw in a whole pinch. Those are the rare moments when you finally figure something out, like aha moments— something that’s been bugging you for ages, but finally clicks. That’s when you actually see the salt level rise, but it doesn't happen often.

So don’t get discouraged. Keep adding grains: write, speak, listen, read, do shadowing, chat with ChatGPT, sing in English, or play cards with your Anki deck— whatever feels fun or interesting to you. You name it . One day you’ll look down and realize your salt shaker is overflowing… and you’ll need a second one.