It is tough to face challenges, overcome them and live another day to reflect and grow from your experience! And when you choose this route, life is all too happy to put so many more your way!

It is like a series of hurdle in a track race that come one after the other, right when you recover from the jump, stabilize yourself and return to your original speed, you face yet another hurdle, and with equal zeal you end up dealing with it as well.

As we grow older, no matter who you are in life, the poorest or the richest, life is not partial, you get your own share of hurdles. Every one of us gets to choose whether we use the momentum and jump or stall and slow down and get flustered to deal with it.

While we figure out ways to deal with them, we build our resilience, to be a warrior, to fight through our struggles, to face them with strength and confidence, and slowly gain control of how we see ourselves. As warriors. Relentless warriors. Never bowing down, and always ready for the next obstacle or challenge. We start liking the taste of dealing with the challenges and overcoming them, and in between two hurdles, trying to live life to the fullest by celebrating a small victory with a sweet, or take a mini-vacation, or visit a temple, or perform an act of gratitude.

Then comes our turn to see our children wanting & choosing to become those warriors. And trust me, that is quite tiring to watch them battle their issues, trying to realize, falling and failing and building themselves up, again and again, and again and again. That is when it hits us, that we have been their role models to show them the path of persistence and resilience, and never to bow down when they face obstacles.

As parents, we often dream of giving our children a life free from pain and hardship. We want to protect them from disappointment, failure, and fear. But over years, watching them grow, I have realized that true strength come from supporting them while they face them.

There was a time when every obstacle of theirs seemed overwhelming. A difficult lesson, a tough competition, and every moment of self-doubt could bring tears and frustration. My instinct was to step in and make everything easier. And I did it for a few years, and slowly I learned to step aside and let them face it themselves. I learned to let them ask for help. I learned to remember that it is their life, and I am part of their support system, ready and available when they need me. There is no hurry to grow or be independent, or solve their own challenges. They just need to be given the space to grow and transform at their own pace. Now, I continue to learn to stand beside them, as their challenges become bigger & tougher, and see them struggle and overcome their struggles, and taking pride in overcoming them. I stand by, waiting to offer encouragement when they need, and help them when they ask, while allowing them to discover their own strength. It is hard as a parent, extremely hard, but I know it is the right choice.

So, to all those who are warriors, remember those who are observing you and learning to follow on your footsteps! You are a role model to those around you!