Courage comes in many forms. It can be sharp and tall and fierce. Soft and quiet but strong. Public. Or private, when no one is watching.
Courage can mean standing up to a bully. Including the bully who lives inside your own mind.
It can mean writing a vulnerable story and sharing it publicly, in the hopes that it might help someone to feel less alone.
It can mean sharing a project even when it's not "perfect" yet.
Moving forward with a goal even when you don't have "everything" figured out.
Leaving a relationship even though you own a home together and have so many complicated entanglements and it's frightening to face the world alone.
It can mean stating: "Mr. Vice President, I'm speaking." "He interrupted me. I would like to finish." "Reclaiming my time." "Me too." "No."
Courage is contagious. It creates a ripple effect. When one person does something brave, others feel moved to stand up and do the same. It just takes one person to start the ripple. Someone like you.
What is one courageous thing, big or small, that you could do today?
. . .
A few days ago, I spoke at a virtual conference. The topic:
Courageous Writing:
Find your message, take a stand, and use your words to change the world.*
*Even if some people are offended or don't like it.