A new approach
This year, I’m choosing a word each month to use as my theme/intention/guide post. When I originally thought of this idea, I thought: January would be a great time to focus on simplifying. Yeah, totally, dude. The January word is totally: simplicity. Rad.
But now that I’ve recovered from my surfer-dude speech impediment, I realize that’s not my word this month. In fact, Wednesday’s post about being scared and doing it anyway has inspired the word for this month.
And that word is… drumroll, please… Courage.
Photo: the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz gets his medal of courage
Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got? (~ The Cowardly Lion)
Courage!
Darn tootin.
And just like the lion, we have all the courage we need already. So consider this your virtual Courage Medal.
“Read what my medal says: “Courage”. Ain’t it the truth? Ain’t it the truth? ” ~ The Lion
So that’s what you can expect from me this month: courage.
And by that I mean, the courage to keep putting myself out there (here) and taking a different path. Courage to try new things. Courage to be who I really am.
And even those days, like Wednesday, when I feel like a total chicken (cluck, cluck), I will find the courage to show up anyway.
Image Source: … and Spiritually Speaking
By the way, here’s a courageous quickie for you:
My dear friend, Carly Butler is leaving behind her “normal” life and leaping into a new adventure. She quit her 9-to-5 job and is hopping a plane to London this weekend in pursuit of a dream.
Carly is going to England to retrace her grandmother’s steps. She has a scrapbook full of letters that her grandmother wrote to her grandpa while waiting until she could join her husband in Canada (Can you imagine being separated from your brand new husband for 7 months with only letters to keep you connected?!).
It may sound like a sentimental journey on the surface, but it is so much more. This journey isn’t just a sweet tribute to her grandmother; it’s a way to honor generations past and the link that connects us all. Carly is using her personal journey to illustrate to all of us that we’re all part of something bigger.
Woah.
And she’ll be sharing it all as it happens, in a raw & honest way… now THAT is courage.
Lucky for me, Carly has agreed to an interview so look for that later this month. But for now, read more of Carly’s story here. Follow her adventure on her blog Life’s Letter. And if you’re feeling inspired, contribute to her IndieGoGo fundraiser (which will help her pursue this courageous adventure AND write a book all about what she learns).
“Courage is a love affair with the unknown.” ~ Osho
And as the month progresses, I’ll be asking you questions about your own courage (or “lack” thereof) and hopefully get your thoughts moving toward building more courage for the things that matter to you.
What does courage mean to you?
Happy Friday!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’ve needed your posts these past 2 days very much! I’ve chosen my word of the month & it’s going to take courage to live by it- but things will be better if I do.
Now to breathe deeply & act.
You’re welcome, you’re welcome, you’re welcome!
Thank you for the encouraging words (it feels good to hear that my words reached someone). Isn’t it funny how we know what will make things better and yet it can feel so hard to do it? You have the courage you need. Like you said, you just need to breathe deeply & act. Good luck!
PS – Would you be willing to share your word of the month?
My word of the month is “no.” It may seem trite & overused to have that as my word, but that is what is calling to me at this moment. I have my business & personal goals & in order for me to focus on accomplishing them, I need to say no to distractions, both external & internal. I’ve successfully said no to someone everyday for 1 week. This is helping me streamline procedures & allowing me to be more productive & less stressed. I’ve angered & upset people, but I know this needs to be done to move forward.
I’ve still got several big challenges ahead of me, but I will breathe & say no.
Robin,
No is a GREAT word to choose… not trite at all. And as for people who might be angry or upset when you say “no”, they will get over it. It sounds like you’re setting boundaries for yourself and that is AWESOME (and from the sound of it, inline with what you need right now).