WHAT MAKES HARD SEASONS BEARABLE?

Since moving to South Africa and spending the past year and a half here as a happily married man, one of the things I’ve enjoyed most has been discovering the culture and its deep contrasts. The differences are strong, present, and meaningful.

One of the greatest gifts has been talking to locals and listening to their stories.

Today’s story is about Lady Ellen.

She has worked with the same family for years. Her job is physically demanding and relentless—cleaning the entire house, gardening, moving furniture, doing laundry, cleaning again. It’s non-stop. Day in and day out.

On top of that, she rarely gets to see her family. Usually, only once a year—during the Christmas holidays.

She has three daughters and several grandchildren. Her youngest daughter has just graduated from high school. Her desire to see them, to embrace them, to spend time together is immense—yet deeply limited by circumstance.

I told her I could relate, in my own way. Living abroad means I don’t get to see my family often either. It isn’t easy.

So I asked her a simple but important question:

“How do you deal with not seeing your family for an entire year?”

Her answer stayed with me.

She said that knowing she will see them again gives her so much joy that it allows her to persevere through seasons that are incredibly difficult.

That vision—seeing her family again—carries her through the hardest days.

What Does This Teach Us?

It teaches us something fundamental about human performance and resilience.

When there is something meaningful ahead—a vision, a target, a purpose—the waiting becomes lighter.

The hard moments don’t disappear, but they lose their power.They stop being the main thing.

Because your eyes are fixed on something that matters more.

The Athlete Example

Think of an athlete preparing for a major competition.

Early mornings.Repetitive training.Injuries.Days where motivation is low and the body is tired.

What allows them to persist isn’t the enjoyment of every session.It’s the vision—standing on the start line, executing under pressure, becoming the athlete they committed to being.

That vision gives meaning to the discomfort.Without it, training becomes unbearable.With it, hardship becomes part of the journey.

The CEO Example

Now think of a CEO leading a company through uncertainty.

Long hours.Difficult decisions.Pressure from stakeholders.Moments of doubt and isolation.

What allows them to endure isn’t the absence of stress.It’s a clear vision of what they are building—the impact they want the company to have,the culture they want to create,the legacy they want to leave.

That vision reframes the struggle.It gives purpose to the pressure.

The Question for You

So if you’re going through something challenging right now—a demanding season, a period of waiting, uncertainty, or fatigue—

Pause and ask yourself:

What am I looking ahead to that truly matters to me?

Because that might be the very thing that allows you to persevere—not with bitterness, but with quiet joy.

Just like Lady Ellen.

Sometimes, what carries us through isn’t the removal of hardship—but the clarity of what’s worth enduring it for.