When Survival Is the Strength 🛡️

"Sometimes courage doesn’t roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" — Mary Anne Radmacher

“Sometimes strength means simply surviving another day.”

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I remember a season where I couldn’t fill out a single to-do list.
Not because I didn’t try, but because getting out of bed already felt like a twelve-step process. The dishes piled up. The texts went unanswered.

I kept telling myself…

You’re being lazy. You’re falling behind. What’s wrong with you?

Getting out of bed: Level 12 Boss Fight.

But here’s the truth I couldn’t see then…

I wasn’t lazy. I was buried.

There are days when brushing your teeth is an act of rebellion. When making it to work, or making it through the day without breaking, is a quiet victory no one claps for.

And if that’s you…
You’re not weak. You’re in a fight that most people can’t see.

Our culture loves the shiny version of strength. The accolades. The before-and-after stories. The six-month glow-up. But real strength is often boring. Quiet. Unseen. It’s breathing when your mind says stop.

It’s not giving up.
Even when you want to. Especially when you want to.

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Today’s not about chasing progress. It’s about noticing persistence.

Ask yourself:

“What small thing did I do today that took everything in me, but I did it anyway?”

Maybe you answered a phone call. Showered. Didn’t cancel that appointment.
Maybe you just got up.

Write it down. Own it.

Let that be enough today.

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"Sometimes courage doesn’t roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'" — Mary Anne Radmacher

And sometimes, just trying again tomorrow is the loudest declaration of all.

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Ever had a stretch where “survival mode” was your default setting?

Let’s talk about those seasons.
The ones where thriving felt unreachable, but you kept showing up anyway.

What kept you going?
What do you wish someone had said to you back then?

Your story, no matter how unpolished, might help someone else keep going one more day.

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Strength isn’t always loud.
It doesn’t always post progress pics or make inspirational speeches.

Sometimes, it looks like making it through Tuesday.
Or eating something.
Or saying no to your inner critic when it tells you you’re failing.

So if today you’re not climbing any mountains, that’s okay.

You’re still here.
Still breathing.
Still trying.

That counts. More than you know.

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Thanks for reading today’s Healing Text.

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With gratitude,
— Ryan Puusaari ☕💛