If I had one message of encouragement to the people in my city

Hear the words of Darren Waller, spoken not as mere sentiment but as a call to the soul: “If I had one message of encouragement to the people in my city, my country, and all across the world, it would be to remember who you are. We are strong, resilient people who are capable of displaying love, kindness and patience in the most violent of storms. Remember all of the tough times and uncertain situations you have endured.” These words strike the heart like a bell, reminding us that within every human being lies a history of survival, a lineage of endurance, and a spirit unbroken by the chaos of the world.

When Waller urges us to remember who you are, he speaks of identity not as the fleeting label of the moment, but as the deep truth forged through trial and perseverance. Too often, in the midst of fear or defeat, we forget our own strength, seeing only weakness or uncertainty. Yet to remember is to awaken—to recall that the same blood which endured yesterday flows still today. To forget oneself is to be overcome, but to remember is to rise again, clothed in the memory of triumphs past.

He names us strong and resilient, not because we have never fallen, but because we have risen after every fall. Resilience is not the absence of hardship, but the power to endure it and emerge transformed. Strength is not found in ease, but in the fire of trial. When storms rage—whether they be wars, plagues, or personal struggles—the human spirit proves again and again that it is not easily shattered. Waller’s words echo the eternal truth: storms do not last, but the resilient endure.

And yet, his vision is not of brute survival alone. He reminds us that in the darkest moments we are capable of love, kindness, and patience. It is easy to imagine strength as a clenched fist or a hardened heart, but the truest strength is gentleness in the face of violence, compassion in the face of cruelty, and patience in the face of uncertainty. History honors not only the conquerors, but those who preserved humanity amidst inhumanity. Consider the life of Viktor Frankl, who survived the horrors of the concentration camps. Amid despair, he discovered that man’s last freedom is the power to choose his attitude, to respond with dignity, with kindness, with inner strength. His story is a living echo of Waller’s call.

The origin of such words lies in Waller’s own journey of struggle and renewal. He himself has battled storms of addiction, pain, and doubt, yet through them he discovered that endurance is possible, and that storms can reveal, rather than erase, the soul’s strength. His exhortation is not abstract but lived: a reminder drawn from scars that healing is possible, and from trials that perseverance is not beyond reach.

The meaning of his words is profound: to remember our strength is to remember our story. Each human carries a record of battles endured—illnesses survived, betrayals overcome, losses mourned, and fears faced. By recalling these moments, we awaken courage for today and hope for tomorrow. Forgetting leaves us adrift, but remembering roots us in the truth that we are survivors, more capable than we often allow ourselves to believe.

The lesson is plain: in moments of uncertainty, pause and remember what you have already endured. Call to mind the hardships you thought insurmountable, yet survived. Let that memory become the anchor of your spirit. Choose strength not only in defiance, but in gentleness. Choose resilience not only to endure, but to grow. And above all, choose love, kindness, and patience, for these are the weapons that no storm can strip away.

Practical action follows: when the storms of life press upon you, breathe and remember who you are. Speak your history of survival aloud. Encourage those around you by reminding them of their own endurance. Practice small acts of kindness and patience each day, for they strengthen the spirit even in calm times, preparing you for trials ahead. For as Darren Waller teaches, you are strong, you are resilient, and in remembering this truth, no storm can claim your spirit.