When Life Knocks You Down, Be the Buffalo

Lean Into the Storm

There’s a powerful lesson to be learned from the buffalo.
When storms roll across the plains, most animals turn and run away, trying to outrun the dark clouds. But the buffalo doesn’t. It lowers its head, braces itself, and walks straight into the storm.

Why? Because instinct tells it that the quickest way through the pain is through the heart of it—not around it. By facing the storm head-on, the buffalo actually gets to the calm faster than those who flee.

That lesson has always stuck with me. Life’s storms are inevitable. They come as loss, failure, heartbreak, or disappointment. But when we face them instead of running, we find our strength. And more often than not, we come out on the other side a little wiser, a little tougher, and a lot more grounded in who we are.

My dad used to say (and sometimes still says) something similar whenever life has knocked me off my feet: “Get knocked down, dust yourself off, and start all over again.” It’s advice that carried me through life’s storms—and it’s the same message captured beautifully in Nat King Cole’s timeless song, “Pick Yourself Up.”

A Song That Still Speaks to the Soul

Cole’s smooth, steady voice delivers words that are both simple and profound:

Pick yourself up,
Take a deep breath,
Dust yourself off,
And start all over again.

Those lyrics echo the same quiet courage the buffalo shows in the storm. They’re about resilience—about finding the resolve to keep going when life tests your spirit.

The song reminds us not to lose confidence if we stumble, but to be grateful for the journey, no matter how bumpy. Because sometimes it’s in those hard moments, when our “chin is on the ground,” that we discover who we really are.

Work Like a Soul Inspired

Another line in the song has always stayed with me: “Work like a soul inspired until the battle of the day is won.”

That’s not just a line about effort—it’s about purpose. It’s a call to meet each day with intention, even when we’re weary. Life demands perseverance. Some days, the battle might simply be getting out of bed and facing what’s ahead. But those small victories—those moments of choosing to keep moving forward—are what build character.

We don’t have to be unbreakable to be strong. We just have to keep trying.

Hope Through the Darkness

Storms pass, but while you’re in them, it can feel like they never will. For those struggling with mental or emotional challenges, the act of starting over can seem impossible. But hope—no matter how small—is powerful.

If you’re reading this and you’re in that storm right now, this is for you:
You are not broken. You are not alone. And no matter how heavy things feel, there is light waiting for you on the other side of this. The world needs you—your laughter, your kindness, your gifts. Take a deep breath. Let yourself rest if you need to, but don’t give up.

Even when the road feels endless, keep inching forward. You’ll be amazed at how much strength you already carry inside you.

There’s no shame in struggling. There’s only courage in continuing. So be gentle with yourself, give yourself credit for surviving the hard days, and remember—starting over is not failure. It’s proof of your resilience.

The Lesson That Lasts a Lifetime

In the song’s final verse, Cole sings, “Will you remember the famous men who had to fall to rise again?”
History is filled with examples—leaders, inventors, artists—who faced failure before finding success. Their stories remind us that setbacks are not full stops; they’re commas in the sentence of life.

So when the winds pick up and the sky darkens, remember the buffalo. Lower your head. Lean into the storm. Take a deep breath. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again.

Because that’s what it means to live with courage. That’s what it means to live with civics in action—choosing integrity, perseverance, and faith when it matters most.