"A veces incluso vivir es un acto de valentía."

Life can be tough, right? Sometimes, just getting out of bed feels like a herculean task. That's what the quote is getting at. It’s saying that merely existing, pushing through the day-to-day grind, can require a lot of bravery. You don’t always need to do something extraordinary to show courage; sometimes, just sticking around is enough.

Think about when this might have been said. Seneca, a Roman philosopher, wrote a lot about dealing with hardship and finding strength within ourselves. Back in his time, life was brutal. There were plagues, wars, and all kinds of political turmoil. People didn’t have the luxury of modern medicine or social safety nets. So, for many, just surviving was a constant struggle. Seneca’s words would have resonated deeply with people who were facing such relentless challenges.

Now, let's bring it into the present. Imagine a single mother who's juggling multiple jobs to keep food on the table for her kids. She’s constantly exhausted, maybe even feels like giving up sometimes. But she doesn’t. She keeps going, day after day, because she has to. Her very existence, her daily fight to keep her family afloat, is an act of courage. It's not a grand gesture, but it’s heroic in its own way.

So, how can you apply this to your life? First off, recognize that it’s okay to struggle. Everyone has moments where life feels overwhelming. When you’re in that space, remember that persistence itself is a form of bravery. Don’t beat yourself up for feeling like it’s hard to cope. Instead, give yourself credit for continuing to push through. Celebrate the small victories—getting out of bed, going to work, taking care of your responsibilities. These are all acts of courage.

Let’s make this even more relatable with a story. Picture a guy named Jake. He’s just gone through a rough breakup and he’s feeling really low. Every day is a reminder of what he’s lost, and it’s hard for him to find joy in anything. But Jake doesn’t give up. He keeps going to work, hangs out with friends when he can, and even starts going to therapy. One day, a friend asks him how he’s managing. Jake shrugs and says he’s just taking it a day at a time. What his friend doesn’t realize is that for Jake, simply getting through the day is a huge act of bravery.

Life isn't always about those big, dramatic moments of courage we see in movies. Often, it's about the quiet, persistent effort to keep going despite everything. So next time you’re feeling like you can’t go on, remember that just getting through the day is enough. It’s an act of courage. And sometimes, that’s all you need to be—just brave enough to live another day.