In Day 5 of the 7 Things My Mother Gave Me series, I reflect on one of my favourite Jamaican proverbs my mother often used when I came to her with a problem.

“Wen chubble kech yuh, pikni shut fit yuh.” Literally, it means that when trouble catches you, even a child’s shirt will fit you.

Behind the humour of the saying is a powerful reminder: in difficult moments, we often discover strength we didn’t know we had.

In this reflection, I explore how challenges can reveal resilience and courage we may not have realised were within us—and how the strength we gain through our struggles can become something we share with others.