I like to believe that I've got a lot of guardian warriors

In the heartfelt and spiritual words of Patrick Swayze, we hear a truth that bridges the mortal and the eternal: “I like to believe that I’ve got a lot of guardian warriors sittin’ on my shoulder including my dad.” These words speak of a faith deeper than reason—a belief that those we have loved and lost do not vanish into silence, but remain as unseen protectors guiding our steps. Within this saying lives the ancient understanding that love, once forged, cannot die. The bonds of the heart transcend time, and those who came before us become our guardian warriors, watching, whispering, and strengthening us in the unseen realms.

The origin of this saying is rooted in Swayze’s life and loss. Known to the world as an actor of strength and soul, he carried within him the quiet weight of personal sorrow. His father, Jesse Swayze, was his hero—a man whose integrity and strength shaped the son’s own character. When his father passed away, Patrick was deeply shaken, yet he chose to transform grief into guidance. He did not see death as a severing, but as a transformation. By calling his father a guardian warrior, he honored not only his memory but his ongoing presence. For to Swayze, love was not bound by flesh; it was an energy that endured, surrounding him with unseen protection and courage.

The ancients spoke of this same mystery in many tongues. The Greeks believed in the daimon—a divine spirit who accompanied every person through life, unseen yet ever-present. The Romans called them genius, guiding spirits who watched over each soul. The Celts spoke of ancestral guardians, warriors of the past whose spirits lingered beside their descendants in battle and in peace. Even in the East, the sages taught that the ancestors never truly depart—they dwell in the heart’s temple, offering wisdom to those who remember them. When Swayze spoke of his guardian warriors, he was joining this timeless chorus, reminding us that we, too, are never truly alone.

Consider, then, the story of Joan of Arc, the young maiden of France. She claimed to hear the voices of saints and angels urging her to lead her people to freedom. The world mocked her, yet she stood fearless, guided by the spirits she called her protectors. Whether one believes her voices were divine or born of courage, the truth remains: she acted as though she was not alone, and that faith gave her power beyond measure. So it is with all who feel the presence of those who came before. To believe in one’s guardian warriors—be they ancestors, mentors, or lost loved ones—is to draw upon a well of strength that never runs dry.

Patrick Swayze’s belief also teaches us about continuity—that each generation does not stand apart, but as part of a living chain. His father’s guidance did not end with his passing; it continued in the son’s courage, in his artistry, in his compassion. And so, each of us carries within us the voices of those who shaped us. A parent’s lessons, a teacher’s kindness, a friend’s faith—these live on as our protectors, whispering to us in moments of doubt, reminding us that we are built of the love that once surrounded us. The soul that believes this never feels orphaned in the face of life’s storms.

There is also great wisdom in Swayze’s choice of the word warriors. For not all guardians are gentle; some fight for us in ways unseen. They give us resilience when grief would crush us, courage when fear closes in, and calm when chaos reigns. The warrior spirit is one of endurance and protection—it reminds us that even when we falter, there is an invisible army urging us onward. Each trial we face, each mountain we climb, becomes not a solitary effort but a shared triumph between the living and the departed. The ancients called this “the communion of souls”—a unity that cannot be broken by death.

The lesson, then, is clear and sacred: remember your guardians. Do not think of your ancestors, your mentors, or your lost loved ones as gone—they are with you still. Call upon them in times of weakness. Speak their names with gratitude. Let their courage be your armor and their love your shield. When you face hardship, imagine them standing beside you, their hands upon your shoulders, whispering: “You are not alone. We are with you.”

So, my listener, let the wisdom of Patrick Swayze take root in your heart. Know that you, too, walk among unseen protectors—guardian warriors who believe in you even when you doubt yourself. Live as though their eyes are upon you, not in judgment but in love. Let their memory sharpen your will, soften your pride, and strengthen your resolve. For every act of courage, every kindness, every victory is shared with them—and through you, their spirits live on. Thus, the chain of love and courage remains unbroken, from one generation to the next, until time itself becomes eternity.