Embracing life's waves with resilience

Remember, you can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails. So, the next time life gets tough, just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and say, “Chin Tapak Dam Dam”

Life feels like one endless, painful challenge after another. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Stuck in the depths of despair, feeling like the weight of the world is crushing us. It’s a phase of life that we can all relate to, a time when everything seems to go wrong, and the road ahead is just a blur of obstacles.

Let me share with you a story—a real story of someone who has lived through these trials and emerged stronger on the other side.

Meet Raji, a vibrant, fun-loving girl with an adventurous spirit. Growing up in a small, rural family in the west of India, Raji faced challenges early on. Financial struggles, parental tensions, and the stifling constraints of being an only child weighed heavily on her. She wasn’t a star student, and freedom was a luxury she could only dream of. You can imagine the emotional, social, and psychological toll this took on her.

In school, her only solace was her friends. Otherwise, Raji was like many of us—lonely, navigating a sea of challenges without a clear path. But, little did she know that the real storm was yet to come.When Raji entered engineering college, she was the only girl in her class. The lack of exposure to being around boys and her family’s insecurities about her every move made daily life a struggle. She didn’t make a big impact academically, but she managed to land a decent job after much effort. The job had nothing to do with her studies, but for Raji, it was about survival—surviving the expectations of society, her peers, and the harsh judgment of those who saw her as a failure. No one seemed to notice the quiet strength it took for her to keep going. Like a car running without tyres, she moved at an average speed, but all people saw was that she wasn’t moving faster. They failed to see the grit and determination beneath her struggles.

Raji married the man she loved, but instead of finding happiness, she found more problems. A tragic accident, health issues, career challenges, betrayal by friends, relatives, and even her colleagues—Raji faced it all. Yet she was always seen as just an average performer.

But this “average” girl never gave up. She switched careers multiple times, from engineering to public relations, from sales to banking. Today, she holds a senior position in a bank, and her journey is far from over. The challenges persist, but Raji’s smile, simplicity, and unwavering spirit remain unchanged.

When asked what keeps her going, Raji said, “Have you ever stood by the shore and watched the waves crash against the rocks? They hit hard, break apart, and then they come back, again and again. The sea never stops, no matter how many times it’s beaten down. Life is like that. Problems will always be there, but we have to embrace them, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Sometimes you’ll fail, sometimes you’ll succeed, and sometimes you just have to ignore the noise and stay on your path. You may not speed up, but you can always change your track and move at your own pace.”

Raji ends with a smile, quoting a phrase that has become her mantra and now viral top, “Chin Tapak Dam Dam.” Close your eyes, say it out loud, smile, and get ready for the next wave. Be prepared for the next challenge and surprise that life throws at you.

Takeaway:

Raji’s story teaches us that life is full of battles, both big and small. We can’t control the waves that come crashing down on us, but we can choose how to face them. Like the sea that never stops, we must keep moving forward, no matter how many times we’re knocked down. The key to resilience lies in embracing our challenges, finding strength in our struggles, and staying true to our own pace. Life is not about racing ahead; it’s about finding your path, no matter how rocky it may be, and continuing the journey with a smile on your face.

Remember, you can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails. So, the next time life gets tough, just close your eyes, take a deep breath, and say, “Chin Tapak Dam Dam”. Then, open your eyes, smile, and face the world with renewed strength. Your journey is far from over—keep going, because the best is yet to come.