Comment by shermantanktop

For me, I plateaued. I didn’t think I had, because I was learning new material, but I wasn’t getting better. And I had kids and other priorities and so enjoying myself was enough. I then finally found a promising musical situation, admitted my stagnation and got a teacher (after decades without). My primary goal is to be a better musician, with instrumental skill a secondary concern. The grind I am talking about is mostly about this new learning phase for me.