“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.”
— Bob Marley
There was a time in my life when everything seemed to fall apart all at once. I remember it vividly—like a typhoon sweeping through my carefully built plans. I was juggling multiple projects, trying to meet deadlines, dealing with pressure from work, and at the same time, there were personal matters weighing heavily on my heart. It felt like life had hit the pause button on joy and turned the volume up on every stressor imaginable.
I used to believe that strength came from preparation, from knowing what to do next, from staying ahead. But during that season, I had no blueprint. Every day, I woke up uncertain and exhausted. All I knew was—I had to keep going. Not because I was fearless, but because there was no other option. That’s when I truly understood Bob Marley’s words.
Strength, I learned, doesn’t always look like lifting heavy burdens. Sometimes, it looks like holding on when everything is pushing you to let go. It’s choosing to show up—whether you’re fixing something at home with trembling hands or showing up to work with a smile despite the chaos inside. It’s answering the call of responsibility when your heart just wants to rest.
Now, looking back, I realize that chapter shaped me more than any success story I could tell. That quiet resilience, that grit developed in silence, became the foundation of my confidence. Life will test you. But when being strong becomes your only choice, something incredible happens: you discover a version of yourself you never knew existed.
So if you’re reading this while going through your own storm, remember—you’re not weak for feeling overwhelmed. You’re strong because you’re still standing.
And that strength? That’s yours forever.