She told me she’d be a phoenix. The image of the mythical creature rising from its ashes glitters in my mind.

“They don’t really exist,” I told her.

She said that it depends on whether or not there’s someone who can see them.

Imagine a world where we’ve all faced difficulties, where tragedy has struck, and life, as we knew it, has crumbled. It’s in these moments that we discover our inner strength and resilience, often when we least expect it. These stories of triumph over tragedy are the stories of heroes who rose from the ashes.

One of the most notable examples of triumph over tragedy is the story of Nelson Mandela. He endured 27 years of imprisonment during the South African apartheid, yet emerged with a spirit unbroken and an unyielding commitment to reconciliation and justice. Mandela’s journey is a testament to the indomitable human spirit, showing that even in the bleakest of circumstances, it is possible to rise, transform and achieve great things.

Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls’ education, yet she not only survived, but continued her mission with even greater determination, winning a Nobel Peace Prize in the process.

What about the countless stories of people who have rebuilt their lives after natural disasters or personal crises? The parents who lost their jobs during the recession, but turned their misfortune into an opportunity to start their own businesses; the cancer survivors who found strength in their battles and now help others in their journey.

It’s when you fall, when you crash, when you break down, when you lose, when you crawl, when you bleed — that you rise again, this time stronger than before. It’s when you get knocked down that you learn how to get back up. It’s when you are completely defeated that you learn how to become victorious. It’s when you’re in a fight that you learn how to defend yourself. Let the fire scorch the skin and burn the soul. You are not the past, you are not the future; you are the present moment. While acknowledging all the trials you’ve overcome, remember how far you’ve reached.

As someone once said and I quote; “You have risen from the ashes before. The only way to survive, is to believe you always will!”

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 15th, 2025