Life has this peculiar way of serving up moments when getting out of bed feels like climbing Mount Everest. I learned this firsthand when I lost my primary source of income and watched every door I knocked on slam shut. The hardest part wasn't just the financial strain—it was seeing the doubt creep into the eyes of family and friends who once believed in me.
Those mornings when motivation felt like a foreign concept taught me something profound: it's not personal, it's just practice. Every rejection, every setback, every moment when hope seemed scarce was simply life asking me to approach challenges with my best ability, not my perfect ability.
What I discovered during those valley moments surprised me. Beneath the stress and uncertainty, I found reservoirs of resilience I never knew existed. I learned I'm bolder than I thought, calmer under pressure, and remarkably good at finding solutions when my back is against the wall. These weren't new qualities—they were always there, waiting for the right circumstances to emerge.
The tools that pulled me through became my daily anchors: morning meditation to center my thoughts, journaling to uncover insights hiding beneath surface emotions, exercise to reset my energy, and honest conversations with trusted friends who reminded me of my worth when I couldn't see it myself.
Here's what I wish someone had told me during my darkest valley: nothing lasts forever. Those crushing moments that feel permanent? They're temporary visitors, not permanent residents. Every tough season is building something better within you—patience, wisdom, emotional intelligence you didn't know you possessed.
When you're in your valley, remember this isn't about you being broken or inadequate. You're being refined. Sometimes the best lemonade comes from the sourest lemons, and your greatest comeback story is often written during your most challenging chapter.
In Zulu we have a common phrase that states "Kuya Le na Le" directly translated "Things are just moving left / right & heading nowhere really". Why I despise this phrase, is because when one comes across a hill in life, upwards should be the only direction one should move.
So mina ngithi "Keep climbing my friend. The view from your next hill will be worth it." - Words from a man whose hiked the highest peak of South Africa, me :).
NLK Mkhize.
