Of courage, gratitude and resilience

“Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently." ~ Maya Angelou

In these challenging times I have developed daily rituals to call my life to attention.

Each morning I set my intention to have courage throughout the day.

I never know exactly how my courage will be called upon.

Sometimes I need courage to listen carefully to a caregiver’s story and wait silently when the memories bring tears.

Every so often I need courage to speak my truth in difficult situations.

On other occasions I use my heart breath to accept those circumstances that I cannot fix, heal or cure. Some days I need courage simply to show up, bringing the best I have for the day.

Occasionally, I need courage to step away from my obligations to seek solace for myself.

How is your courage called upon to meet the day?

Each evening I step into gratitude to balance the day. Before I turn out the lights and drift into dreamtime, I call out three things that crossed my path during the day for which I am grateful.

I don’t write them down. I visualize them and say, “Thank you.”

This week I am grateful for the moon who lingers in the morning sky. “Thank you.” I am grateful for the request to reenact a rocking ritual to shake up grief at a funeral. “Thank you.” I am grateful for the lovely friend who sent me a lei from Hawaii. “Thank you.” I am grateful that my physical therapist knows how to use Zoom. “Thank you.”

In this moment, what are you grateful for?

This cycle of courage and gratitude fortifies my resilience to work with those who are captured by fear, drowning in grief, or isolated from their loved ones.

I hope you have created rituals to sustain you in this time of change.

I continue the work of having the… Courage to Be Me