COURAGE MONTH: DAY 11: “The only tyrant I accept in this world is the ‘still small voice’ within me. And even though I have to face the prospect of being a minority of one, I humbly believe I have the courage to be in such a hopeless minority.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
Wow…this one is a favorite. I have used it before. It is the story of my life…I have been such a long-time admirer and aspirant of this great man’s. I doubt I will ever become anywhere near as courageous as he was, but I sure have a good measuring stick to use.
I have gone on a great number of solo adventures in my life. A lot of them. And been terrifically scared in so many of them. But they were indicated and no one else was going to push me out of the proverbial nest of comfort that I was in.
I recently found a new AA group that I enjoy. This seems easy until you have to do it, over and over again. I have really found my tribe this time. I have not felt like that in over 20 years. It just doesn’t happen. I may find a group where I like the people okay, but seldom have I found a group where I am in a tribe of peers…almost all these women have the same or more time than me…what a gift! I even know so many of their folks from way back…a sort of family reunion with people who knew my early people. I love that!
That still small voice in me tells me to do things quite often that I don’t want to do. They involve some form of discomfort or me walking through something that I don’t feel I really need to. Does anyone relate to that? Yeah, I know. I will tell on myself in another aspect of this. I REALLY want to go to Yellowstone again before I get too old to enjoy camping. I want to camp, even if I sleep in my car, which I could do, if the tent thing feels unsafe. And I know it would be the trip of a lifetime for me, especially going alone. I know I would love it. But I keep vacillating about it. I would go before next summer if I make the commitment to myself.
If someone else were involved, I know I would do it. Isn’t that weird? I guess I always look for a witness or companion to do fun things. And that can sometimes take a great deal of the fun out of it, if you know what I mean. My experience is that there are only a handful of people I have ever known who could or would step into adventures with me without some kind of hassle. So, I am going to do this…I will wait until next April or May, depending on the weather. But, I will make that commitment to myself now. Because I know you guys will hold me to it. I would have liked to go this fall, but the money and the equipment are not right yet.
I know I can be a minority of one and allow that to be okay. It always is. I seldom follow the popular or easy road. It is not my style. But I love the life that I get when I dare to do the things that my heart calls on me to do. Much love!
Dolphin Hug 