Are You Courageous?

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” – Shannon L. Alder

Do you consider yourself to be courageous?

I’m afraid that courage is something sorely lacking in my life. Empathy? Yes. Strength? It’s been said. But courage? By my assessment, not on your life.

Take, for instance goal-setting. It scares the crap out of me because I am a realist.

A dead-on “this is how it is so I might as well either accept it or move on” realist. I probably drive people batty with my tendency to overthink even the most trivial things, or let loose with a string of potty-mouth laced expletives, or go down rabbit holes- like this one…

But, back to courage, fear, and goals, oh my!

I’ve found it necessary to make space in my overthinking, freewheeling, rabbit hole exploring brain, for writing goals while keeping my realistic side happy. Quite the conundrum, right? I mean, seriously.

First off, goals mean making a list. Lists aren’t my thing either. I like organized chaos. I really need to take a lesson from my daughter-in-love Sarah who is the list Queen. Oops rabbit!

Second, while I was comfortable with organized chaos in the past, grief is enough chaos in my life and I crave peace.

Third, goals always seemed like dreaming. Did I mention realist? so maybe I’ll call the list an Action Plan and that will sound more comforting to my cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

My list (argh) yesterday felt a lot like goals (nooo) and it felt uncomfortable! So I’m gathering courage from deep inside to turn that list into a bonafide Action Plan…

Here we go:

Action Plan for 2020

1. Keep moving forward

– No matter how many times it seems overwhelming

– Phone-a-friend if in dire straits

– Listen to loud music to clear the chaos of the brain

2. Be open to new

– Experiences

– People

– Thoughts

– Love?

3. London! In March! Yes!

– Buy that ticket!

– Ask for suggestions off the beaten path where tourists do not go

4. Paradigm shift

– see #2

– Work on my book

– Get rid of chaos

5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude

– Remember the good times

– Say thank you for every little thing

– Write thank you notes

6. Move

7. TBD

There, done for now. Shew.

Maybe, just maybe, I am a bit like the cowardly lion in “The Wizard of Oz” who thinks he doesn’t possess courage because he can’t see past his fear of failing.

I’ll overthink that last statement a bit and get back to you…

183 XO Lisa