Disclaimer: MRO is committed to providing non-binding guidance to industry stakeholders on important industry topics. Subject matter experts from MRO’s organizational groups have authored some of the articles in this publication, and the opinion and views expressed in these articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the opinions and views of MRO. The following article was written by Nazra Gladu, from Manitoba Hydro.

I had made it all the way to level 6011 in Wordscapes. The puzzles were getting tougher, but I was on a roll, breezing through rows of letters and enjoying that satisfying “Level Complete!” sound. Then, in one of those blink-and-it’s-gone moments, my son accidentally deleted the app – ahhhhh! Just like that, all my progress vanished. It felt like I’d lost a limb, and for a moment (brief, but longer than I care to admit) I contemplated disowning my own child. I had to start from scratch.

Frustration turned into determination. With each new word I pieced together, something deeper resonated. The app had reset, but the experience and the lessons hadn’t. I was learning again, rising again, levelling up… again. Practicing patience, persistence and problem-solving. And that, I realized, is a lot like life and the energy landscape.

Just when we think we’ve mastered something whether it be skills, a routine, a career, or even our understanding of the energy landscape, a new twist appears. The rules shift. The puzzle changes. Suddenly, we’re beginners in a game we thought we knew like our own name. But what felt like a setback becomes a garden ready for new growth. We try, fail, learn, and adapt. Just like with Wordscapes, we’re building something better with every new attempt.

The world is doing this too. Look at how we’re approaching the energy puzzle, renewable energy resources, aging infrastructure, cyber security threats, severe weather, large loads. We’re reworking the grid, trying new combinations, learning from failures and breakthroughs. I’ve heard that progress isn’t always linear. Sometimes we must reset to level-up. But that doesn’t mean we’re starting from zero. It means we’re building something smarter, stronger, and more sustainable.

Whether it’s a mobile game or the next big energy shift, one thing holds true, we don’t lose what we’ve learned, we just apply it in new ways and keep forging ahead.  

 So, when I’m feeling low, caught up in the frustration of something small like a lost game level or a bad day at work, I remind myself: I’ve overcome bigger. Don’t they say, “never sweat the small stuff”? Life has tested me in ways that no screen or puzzle ever could. A few years back, I became seriously ill, and during that very long, uncertain time, I clung to one phrase like a life raft: everything is temporary. It became my mantra. Every discomfort, every moment of fear, I told myself, this too will pass. And it did. I came out the other side changed, yes, but stronger and more resilient in the process.

And I know that our grid, both the one powering our homes and offices, and the one inside each of us will rise to meet the moment too. The energy landscape has shifted dramatically from fossil fuels to wind, solar, and innovative battery solutions. But so have we. We’ve grown more resilient, more aware, more willing to rethink, try out-of-the-box solutions and rebuild. Just like in Wordscapes, just like in life, we adapt and overcome. We reconnect the pieces, recalibrate, and keep moving forward. And as we do, we come out stronger. Better. Together. One united North American bulk power system.

And I’m happy to report, my son is still part of the family. And yes, in case you are wondering, he’s banned from using my cell phone.

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