There are days that hit so hard you don’t even know how you’re supposed to stand back up.
Days that knock the breath out of you and leave you staring at the floor because getting up feels impossible.
And yet… somehow… you’ve done it before.
You’ve dragged yourself through moments you never thought you’d survive.
You’ve pushed through days when everything in you said stop.
You’ve kept going when the ground underneath you felt completely gone.
That’s what I want you to remember.
Not the fall.
Not the pain.
Not the moment everything in you went still.
Remember the part of you that kept moving anyway.
The part that reached for something — anything — to hold onto.
The part that refused to stay down, even when standing felt impossible.
You don’t have to rise gracefully.
You don’t have to rise quickly.
You don’t even have to rise with a plan.
Just rise.
Even an inch counts.
Even a shaky step counts.
Because every single time life has dropped you to your knees, you’ve gotten back up.
Maybe not right away.
But you did.
And that proof lives inside you, whether you feel it today or not.
So, keep reaching.
Keep rising.
Keep choosing the next inch, the next breath, the next moment.
You’ve already survived what tried to take you out.
You’re still here.
And you’re not done yet.
If these words connected with you, you’ll find many more like them in What Remains. It’s a collection of the writings I’ve shared over the years, bringing together reflections on grief, love, loss, and the connections that continue long after someone is gone.
I hope it brings you comfort, understanding, and the reminder that you’re not alone.
If you’d like to read more, you can find the book here
Available now on Amazon