I don’t know about you, but I love when life sends me little messages in unexpected places. Today, during my not-quite-winter cleaning (because, let’s be real, seasons are just guidelines), I found an old purse I hadn’t touched in ages. Buried within its forgotten pockets was a wrinkled fortune cookie slip that read, “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.”

I stared at that tiny piece of paper for a good minute, letting the words sink in. The truth is, I’ve been through plenty of challenges—hardships, heartbreaks, moments where I thought the world was just piling it on. And yet, here I am. It’s not that life has stopped throwing curveballs; it’s that I’ve grown stronger with each hit. I’ve learned to dodge, and even when I get knocked down, I find a way to stand back up.

This little fortune felt like a cosmic pat on the back, reminding me that resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges, but rather enduring them. It’s like a muscle—each trial, each tear, each sigh strengthens it bit by bit. Maybe I’m not done being tested (okay, I know I’m not), but there’s power in knowing that we humans are built to rise.

I think we all need these reminders sometimes: that no matter what happens, we are capable of surviving, and even thriving, despite the chaos. So yes, I’ll keep the fortune as a small talisman and try to channel its energy the next time life throws me a test.

As we head into the new season (whatever that may be), maybe it’s time to clean out more than our closets and embrace the strength we’ve gathered.