I feel like I still am struggling in a lot of different ways. I

Hear the words of Gina Gershon: “I feel like I still am struggling in a lot of different ways. I still have to fight for certain things. Certain jobs. At least I’m working and I’m thankful for that.” Within these words shines a wisdom that belongs not only to her but to all who walk the long path of labor, ambition, and hardship. For in her voice there is both the weight of struggle and the light of gratitude, the acknowledgment of battle and the triumph of endurance. It is the ancient truth: that life is never free of strife, yet the spirit can still rise in thankfulness for what remains.

The origin of this saying lies in the very nature of survival and persistence. Gershon, though known for her talent and recognition, reminds us that even those who seem secure in the eyes of the world must continue to struggle, to wrestle with uncertainty, to fight for their place. Fame does not free one from toil, nor does talent spare one from hardship. Instead, it is the ability to give thanks—thankful even for the work one still possesses—that grants the heart its strength. Thus, the seed of this quote grows from humility and the knowledge that no victory is permanent, and no labor is guaranteed.

In her words we hear echoes of those who came before. Consider the life of Frederick Douglass, born into slavery, who had to fight for every fragment of freedom, every scrap of dignity. Even after gaining his liberty, he struggled still, striving against the storms of prejudice and injustice. Yet in his writings, he often expressed profound gratitude—not for a life free of struggle, but for the chance to fight, to speak, to labor toward freedom. In this, he shared the same spirit that Gershon’s words hold: not the denial of hardship, but the thanksgiving for strength amid hardship.

The teaching is clear: the presence of struggle does not mean the absence of blessing. To struggle is to live, to be engaged in the great contest of existence. The wise do not despair when the road is steep; instead, they give thanks that they are still walking it. For there are those whose battles are already ended, whose voices have already fallen silent. To still labor, to still strive, is itself a gift. And thus Gershon speaks as one who understands that the fight is not shameful—it is honorable.

Her words also contain a lesson in perseverance. She admits openly that she has to “fight for certain things.” How many of us imagine that others are free of such struggle, that success means rest, that recognition means ease? Yet she confesses the truth: no matter the height one climbs, there are still battles to be fought. This is the reality of life, and the wise accept it with courage. They do not waste their days longing for a life without difficulty, but rather sharpen their spirit so that they may endure.

What then should we learn? That we must not measure our lives by the absence of hardship, but by the endurance of it. We must give thanks, as Gershon does, even for the chance to labor. Let gratitude transform the struggle from a burden into a badge of honor. And let us remember that the fight itself—though wearying—proves that we are still alive, still moving, still capable of building and becoming.

Practical actions follow from this wisdom. Each day, look upon your struggles not as curses, but as teachers. Ask yourself: what strength are they building in me? When work comes, even if it is less than you hoped, give thanks for it, for it sustains you and allows you to keep walking. When opportunities arise, though they demand battle, enter them boldly, for they are the very fabric of growth. And above all, speak of your hardships not with shame but with courage, for in sharing them you inspire others to endure their own.

Thus let the teaching of Gina Gershon be remembered: life is struggle, and struggle is not the end of gratitude, but its birthplace. Do not despise your battles, for they keep your spirit alive. Do not lament that you must fight, but be thankful that you still have ground upon which to stand, still have breath with which to strive. In this balance of humility and gratitude, struggle and thanksgiving, lies the secret of resilience, the wisdom of the ages, and the light for generations to come.