05/06/2025
Ernest Hemingway once said, āThe hardest lesson Iāve had to learn as an adult is the relentless need to keep going, no matter how shattered I feel inside.ā
This truth is raw, unyielding, and universal. Life doesnāt pause when our hearts are broken, our minds are weary, or our spirits feel like theyāre unraveling. It moves forwardārelentless and unapologeticādemanding that we keep up. Thereās no time to stop, no pause for healing, no quiet reprieve to gather the pieces of ourselves. The world wonāt wait, even when we desperately need it to.
What makes this harder is that no one prepares us for it. As children, we are surrounded by stories with happy endingsātales of triumph, redemption, and everything falling perfectly into place. But adulthood strips away those comforting illusions. Instead, weāre faced with a stark reality: survival isnāt glamorous or heroic most of the time. Itās putting on a brave face when you feel like falling apart. Itās showing up when retreat feels like the only option. Itās taking one more step forward, even when every part of you longs for rest.
And yet, we endure. Thatās the miracle of being humanāwe endure. In the deepest moments of pain, we discover reserves of strength we never knew we had. We learn to comfort ourselves, to find hope in the smallest corners, to keep whispering words of courage when no one else does. Over time, we realize that resilience isnāt dramatic or loud. Itās a quiet defiance, a steadfast refusal to let lifeās burdens crush us completely.
Yes, itās messy. Yes, itās exhausting. And yes, there are days when the weight feels unbearable. But even then, we move forward. Every small, hesitant step is a testament to our resilienceāa reminder that, even in our darkest hours, weāre still fighting, still refusing to give up.
That fight, that quiet courage, is the essence of survival.
- Author Unknown
