This short memoir unravels a life of grit and perseverance, thread by thread, revealing how each strand withstood life’s ups and downs — joys as well as sorrows. Each strand was tested, stretched, but never snapped, enduring every tug. It is a story for everyone, especially the youth and women. Life is a game, and there is always someone on the other side of the court, tossing ball after ball at us. None of us is ever the perfect ace to hit them all; some come straight at us, striking hard. What carries us through this game called life is the inner strength we must develop, nurture, and renew each day.