There are moments I watch my youngest daughter struggle. I see the frustration in her eyes.  I see the weight of feeling like she isn’t measuring up, the discouragement that whispers through tears. Why even try? She has a dyslexia, and academic learning is not a straight, easy path for her. It twists and turns, demands patience, and often asks her to climb mountains that others seem to glide over effortlessly. And yet, my beautiful girl climbs and remains steadfast.

I won’t let her give up, but I will hold her hand while she figures out her own way just as I have done. Because her way, the slow rise of understanding and steady climb of perseverance is just as beautiful as any brilliant sunrise.

We live in a world that loves success, the quicker the better. Our communities compare milestones, grades, achievements, and abilities as if life is a race and falling behind is not an option. But my daughter is not in competition with anyone else. Her steady growth does not equate to falling behind. She is a slow rising sunrise, gradually unfolding in her own time. She is breathtaking in the first light of discovery, radiant in the golden glow of perseverance, and equally beautiful in the quiet moments of rest gathering strength for her next ascent.

Success is not one size fits all. It is not measured by how quickly we get there, but by the heart we put into the journey. Her success is not defined by how she compares to another child, but by her own growth, her own victories, her own determination to try again and again.

To the parents walking this road with their children: Let’s not measure them against the world’s timeline. Let’s remind them, and ourselves, that progress, no matter how slow, is still progress. Let’s celebrate every effort, every small win, every step up the mountain.

Because a slow rising sunrise is still a sunrise. And it is breathtaking. Don’t you think?