*By Dr Devan

Your progress in life

is written in effort, not in the applause of others, nor in the fleeting shadows of praise.

It begins in silence, when no one is watching, when you fight the heaviness of doubt

and still take one more step.

The mountain is not conquered in a leap—it is climbed by steady feet, by breath that does not quit,

by hands that refuse to let go.

Do not fear the slow pace;

fear only the pause that never ends. Even a single drop, falling each day,

can hollow the hardest stone.

Failures are not chains—

they are chisels, shaping your strength, refining your vision, teaching you endurance.

When the night feels too long, remember:

the sun always rises,

and every dawn is proof

that persistence wins over darkness.

Your dreams are not distant—they wait. They wait for your courage, for your discipline,

for your refusal to surrender

when comfort calls you backward.

So lift your head, straighten your back, and walk forward with conviction. The world respects consistency,

time bows to persistence,

and destiny favors the relentless.

For the measure of success

is not in riches or crowns,

but in the unshakable spirit

that says : “I will not stop

until I have become

all I was meant to be.”

*Dr Devan is a Mangaluru-based ENT specialist and author.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti