I think we've all been there.

My "uh-oh" firelighting moment came after a day of dense fog. Pretty unusual around here. I couldn't get dry spruce twigs from under the tree going with a Bic; they were utterly saturated. A bit of lighter fluid finally got things going. But I earned a fair bit of humility that day. And a candle became standard kit always.

Since then, it's been a hobby to use things like thistle or cattail down to make a fire with the most feeble of sparks. In comparison, a modern firesteel is a godsend; the amount of heat generated is amazing. But pushing the envelope teaches the importance of slow, deliberate preparation; and I think that translates into a greater depth of skill when conditions are vile. Confidence, too.

BTW, making a friction (bowdrill) fire is on my bucket list. So far, smoke + blisters + cursing. Argh!