Steve Wiens on Courage

Often, in the adult day treatment program, we were reminded we were courageous for being there. It was a choice after all. We were recommended for the program, but by no means obliged to attend. It was our choice to come each day, listen, explore, reflect, learn, cry, share and often by the end of the day go home numb or exhausted or exhilarated depending on how deep we had had to dig that day. We were reminded that 2 in 5 Canadians suffer from some sort of mental illness and we were courageously facing ours, trying to learn how to cope.

I never thought about it being courageous. I thought about it as cowardly. I thought I was hiding away from the real world.

Today I read an amazing post by Steve Wiens - The Actual Pastor - who I refer to on here quite often. He is one of my favorite "real" people just trying to figure it out as he goes.

He admits this is a repost --from his archive--for a friend who will need some courage in the near future. For me, it is a reminder of all the courageous things I have done and as I face some tough decisions in the future---what I will need to get through it all.

I cannot say it better than he can. What courageous things have you done? What do you need to tap into courage to decide to do?

Comments

Keeping Afloat in Darkness - When Robin Williams is Gone

A few weeks ago Robin Williams was everywhere you looked. People were desperate for details; to find the one thing that assured them that his situation was so different from theirs that they are safe; that it could never be them. But if you suffer from depression, the suicide of such a brilliant, successful, individual; part of our lives for so many years and responsible for so many laughs; looks like a leak in your boat. A friend asked me, "Ok but no one knows what the future holds. Could he not see that?" For someone drowning in the dark spiral of depression, there is no future. There is only now. There is only nothing. The boat is gone. You are under. It is not about your spouse or your friends or your kids or career or fans or dogs or anything. When the darkness squeezes it is all about now. And now is nothing. It is bleak and empty and so dark, you cannot see a bottom, or edges or surface ---just darkness. "Some...

There is more good stuff--keep reading»

Being Enough

I am grateful that the chapters in The Gifts of Imperfection are short. Each one overflows with concepts that ask you to reach down to your very core and dig around a bit with a sharp object. Sometimes you have to pull back and take a break. Like at the dentist...when you have to put your hand up...they let you close your mouth for a minute....you stretch your jaw....rinse maybe. "You ok to continue?" You lie back, take a breath, try to get comfortable, open up, look at the outline of the hand holding the drill backlit by that horrible light...and nod. Not to say it is all bad. But this chapter on Exploring the Power of Love, Belonging, and Being Enough made me uncomfortable in my skin. I squinted a lot. Really, really trying to get at what she was saying without having to feel what she is saying....which is not the purpose. So I had to read the chapter a few times. Then I fiddled around on Facebook and Outlook to avoid sta...

There is more good stuff--keep reading»

Shame is A Full-Contact Emotion (Brené Brown)

It is a cool outside this morning and I have on my fluffy red robe as I sit outside and watch the birds flit back and forth from the fence to the feeder----arrogantly tossing aside imperfect sunflower seeds to get to the good ones. The discarded seeds, some empty, some full, punctuate my deck, waiting for the squirrels, who will later claim this easy buffet. I am still reading Brené and The Gifts of Imperfection. Feels a bit like learning a new language ---I see the words---I hear the words---but the meaning is so diffuse...I need to read and reread and sometimes, even read out loud to make the words stick It is hard work. And while the smooth cover of her book lies balanced on my palm, seemingly weightless, many of the concepts have a density that knocks me flat on my ass ---like a large medicine ball. CATCH THIS ONE! Oooooooof! I am down. Eyes wide, trying to catch my breath, wrestling with the weight of hefty concept...

There is more good stuff--keep reading»

Work In Progress

Search This Blog