I thought about my granddaughter when I hesitated at the wooden planks in a section of Ship Harbor Trail. Traversing the granite rock mounds, gravelly paths, and knotted tree roots seemed less intimidating than the narrow strips keeping me from falling into the stones and underbrush. Marveling at my granddaughter’s courage and skill, I planned on telling her that I nearly failed my first “balance beam” attempt.

She consistently scores 9s and above on her gymnastics journey; I barely garnered a 4, if only for regaining my balance with the help of trekking poles. I was scared to keep hiking, but I imagined Suri, practicing with grit and determination. The thought of her encouraged me, and boards soon gave way to graveled paths again. As my hiking mentor, my daughter, spurred me on, I finished the trail with a sense of accomplishment. 

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.”—Proverbs 13:20

Every journey begins at some point. When Suri started her adventure as a gymnast, her balance beam was ground-level, not four feet above. Now, she flips and appears to glide effortlessly as she delivers her routine. What people don’t see as she performs are the countless hours she spent training with her coach, and the courage she mustered to continue gymnastics after enduring multiple falls and injuries. With the unwavering encouragement from her mom and dad, she now enjoys a well-earned view of cheering crowds.

I wouldn’t have known the thrill of views at Acadia National Park without the patience of my daughter, Sheila, as she taught me how to navigate varying terrains. Her support fostered my resolve and opened new horizons in nature for me. I like to think I cheered her on as enthusiastically when she was learning and growing. Sheila displayed the same determination and perseverance as her niece, Suri, especially when balancing her studies in music, software engineering, foreign languages, and finance, among myriad other accomplishments. Her success today results from years of unseen research, practice, and effort, and from overcoming all the hurdles on her journey.

We are three generations, connected by blood, strengthened by bonds of courage, determination, and love of learning. It all starts with having the guts to take the first step (on the balance beam, the trail, the studies, the career, the hobbies) and the fortitude to overcome challenges and hardship. I wholeheartedly believe that being surrounded by loving family, friends, and mentors empowers every generation to run that race and keep on going.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us… .”—Hebrews 12:1

Copyright 2025 Paula Veloso Babadi

Edited by Gabriella Batel

Picture Credits: Original photos in the collage, clockwise, taken by Jahan Babadi, Paula Babadi, and Sheila Babadi, and used with permission.