You know those moments when the universe just… gives you exactly what you need?
Today was one of those days.
I was in full decluttering mode in my office (because sometimes you just need to clear the physical space to clear your mind, right?).
Between sorting through papers and reorganizing files, my eyes landed on this quote I’ve had since 2001.
Most days, it just blends into the background – another quote in my office.
But today?
Today it practically jumped out at me, demanding to be read.
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit. Life is queer with its twists and turns, As every one of us sometimes learns, And many a failure turns about, When you might have won had you stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow- You may succeed with another blow. Success is failure turned inside out- The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit” – John Whittier
As I stood there, reading these familiar words by John Whittier, I was transported back to different chapters of my life.
Back to those late nights in medical school, when the textbooks seemed endless and the exams felt impossible.
Through the challenging days of residency, when exhaustion was my constant companion.
Even into my years as an attending, facing new challenges and responsibilities.
This simple quote has witnessed my entire medical journey.
It’s been there through the tears, the doubts, and yes, the victories too.
Reading it again today felt like getting advice from an old friend – one who’s seen you at your worst and still believes in your best.
‘Don’t give up though the pace seems slow-
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt…’
These words hit differently now. They’re not just about perseverance; they’re about perspective.
About understanding that our hardest moments often come right before our biggest breakthroughs.
It’s funny how we keep certain things in our lives, isn’t it?
Sometimes we don’t even know why we hold onto them until that perfect moment when they speak to us again.
This quote has been my silent cheerleader through some of the toughest seasons of my life, reminding me that difficulty doesn’t equal defeat.
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit’
Listen… your journey? It matters.
Like, REALLY matters. Not just for you (though that would be enough!), but for every single person your business is gonna impact.
And those little ones watching you figure it all out? (speaking as someone whose 3-year-old regularly crashes my Zoom calls)
They’re learning something incredible – that you can build something meaningful AND keep what’s most important… first.
Trust me, those messy, beautiful moments of trying to balance it all?
They’re actually perfect.
Sometimes our biggest breakthroughs come from these ‘off-script’ moments… when we stop fighting what is and start seeing what could be.
I’m curious – what treasures are hiding in plain sight in your space?
What items have you kept as silent reminders of your goals and dreams?
Maybe it’s a photo, a note, or even just a simple quote like mine.
Take a moment today to look around.
What objects have been witnessing your journey?
What stories do they hold?
What wisdom are they waiting to share with you again?
-Dr. Celia
P.S. I don’t want you to quit. Click here to work with me.
Photo by Styled Stock Society (affiliate link. If you buy, I get a small commission at no cost to you).
