One Minute at a Time: Lessons from Life’s Toughest Moments

In the most difficult chapter of my life, I discovered a powerful mantra: One day at a time, one hour at a time, maybe even one minute at a time. When the weight of yesterday feels overwhelming and tomorrow’s uncertainty adds pressure, the only place to find strength is in the now.

I learned that true resilience is born in these small, manageable moments. Rather than looking back with regret or forward with fear, I began focusing on the single minute in front of me. I would remind myself, “Stay here, breathe, and just hold on.” It was here that I found my grounding, realizing that strength isn’t measured by how much we endure all at once but by the small, quiet victories we achieve by simply holding steady.

“Don’t look back, you’re not going that way,” and “This too shall pass,” became my anchors. In each present moment, I aimed to stay strong, sane, and healthy—not for some grand future goal, but for the sake of that one minute.

And that’s the lesson I carry forward: In life’s toughest seasons, take it minute by minute. Keep your feet in the present, where you’re not yet burdened by what’s past or worried about what’s ahead. Just one minute at a time—because sometimes, that’s all we need to keep going.