Sometimes, life has a way of knocking us down when we least expect it. We stumble over unexpected hurdles, lose our footing in our careers, or find ourselves feeling heavy with the weight of a mistake. When we are in that low place, it is so easy to feel like the fall defines us. But Abraham Lincoln’s words remind us of a beautiful, vital truth: the fall is just a moment in time, but the act of rising is where our true character is forged. The concern shouldn't be about the stumble itself, but about whether we allow that stumble to become our permanent resting place.

In our everyday lives, this shows up in much smaller, but equally poignant, ways. It is that sinking feeling when you fail a test you studied hard for, or the quiet heartache of a friendship drifting apart. In those moments, we often get stuck in a loop of self-criticism, replaying the moment we tripped. We become so focused on the bruise that we forget we still have the strength to stand up. The magic isn't in being perfect or staying upright at all times; the magic is in the grit it takes to brush the dust off our knees and try again.

I remember a time when I felt like my little wings were too heavy to lift. I had faced a series of setbacks that made me want to just tuck my head under my wing and stay in the nest forever. I was so preoccupied with the shame of failing that I didn't realize I was missing the opportunity to learn something new. It took me a while to realize that my friends weren't judging me for the fall; they were simply waiting, with hopeful eyes, to see me flutter back into the sky. They weren't worried about my mistake, they were rooting for my comeback.

As you move through your day, I want you to be gentle with yourself if you have stumbled lately. Do not waste all your energy mourning the fall. Instead, direct that energy toward your next step. Take a deep breath, acknowledge the pain, but then look forward. What is one small thing you can do today to start your ascent? You have so much strength tucked away inside you, just waiting for you to decide that it is time to rise.