Don’t Fold
Life deals us all a hand. Folding is always an option—but is it the best one?
I know what it feels like to be dealt a bad hand. My struggles were heavy, but I also know many before me, and many after, have faced even worse. Of course, not everyone experiences the same hardships. Should we blame those who don’t?
I think about my sister often. She was born a Black woman, living with sickle cell anemia and bipolar disorder, without her biological father in her life. Her obstacles were immense, far beyond what I could imagine having the strength to carry.
She wasn’t always in a state of struggle, but everyone has limits. At some point, she reached hers. It’s painful, but it reminds me how important it is to keep playing our hand, no matter how unfair it feels.
Discovering Our Gifts
While many of us wish for different circumstances, we all have gifts that can help guide us forward. Some are simple, some are complex—but they are there.
My greatest gift was being the grandson of an engineer, and the son of two highly intelligent parents. That foundation helped me in school. I was also blessed with physical ability that supported me athletically.
Our gifts provide a compass. They are tools we can sharpen and use. And even if hardship has defined much of your life, one hidden gift is always there: strength born from suffering.
Suffering becomes transformative once you understand the resilience it creates.
Your Future Isn’t Defined by Your Past
The past is fixed, but the future isn’t. The rich become poor, the poor sometimes rise to wealth. What matters is whether we recognize our strengths and weaknesses. If we fail to do that, we risk repeating the same cycles forever.
I remember walking the streets of San Francisco. We walked for food, for a place to sleep, often while those around us sought drugs to numb the pain. It could have broken me. Instead, I decided I wanted control over what my future would look like.
It took time to find that power—but it was there. It’s there for all of us. Giving up is easy. The real challenge is putting in the work to rise.
Play the Hand You’re Given
“Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will.” – Jawaharlal Nehru
Like poker, you can be dealt a weak hand, but that doesn’t determine whether you win. In the World Series of Poker, Doyle Brunson famously won two years in a row (1976 and 1977) with one of the weakest hands in the game: 10–2 offsuit.
He could have folded. Instead, he played his cards and created his own luck.
That’s the lesson: life may hand you challenges, but the outcome isn’t written. Don’t fear failure—fear never trying.
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