If things went smooth how would we ever truly learn the game. Let's take these lumps and lessons while the stakes are relatively inconsequential. Imagine the toll that it might take on us if we flew through micros and small stakes only to get the harsh reality of poker when we reach midstakes and think we could do it for a living. It might be too detrimental to ever come back.
I think this is almost certainly true. Progress is almost never smooth in any endeavour, for example I know that a lot musicians find they improve in sudden leaps but have to spend a long time being patient in between when there seems to be no progress. It's just in poker these things are even worse as variance can send you on a massive losing streak even when your getting better.
Great music btw!
