Happy weekend dear friends. I hope you had a purpose-fulfilling week. Mine was stormy, a zig-zag kind of but I still came out strong by the mercies of God. I believe it can only get better by the day. Reflecting on my experiences and the lessons it affords me over the last two weeks leaves me with the thought "Courage" is an underrate character trait.
Many times we see courage as an outward expression of boldness, however, I have learned by experience that there is not much noise about courage. Suffice to say that real courage can come from the quietest of places. Though we celebrate those who stand tall in the face of adversity, rarely do we hear about the strength it takes to simply rise, day after day, in the midst of struggle. The words of Mary Anne Radmacher has been a turning point. She said, "Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’"
Those words or quote as you would call it speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. Many of life's battle are not fought in the open with fanfare and visible strength. Sometimes, the fiercest battles are those that no one else sees. These are those battles fought in the silence of our minds and hearts. We can explain such moments as times when life feels overwhelming, and yet, we make the decision to keep going, to try again, even if we feel like we’ve failed.
The Quiet Voice of Resilience
We can think of Radmacher 's "Quiet courage" as resilience. This is the internal energy or perseverance to move forward when you feel stuck or broken. This is the push you need to overcome the voice that reminds you of your inabilities and how late you've been. Quiet courage is waking up each morning, with the knowing that the road ahead might be difficult, but you choose to walk it anyway.
Life may not always go as planned. I remember as kids when we'll state our wishes and fantasize how the future would be. Growing up with enthusiasm, you meet with disappointments and unexpected challenges that often shake our confidence, making us question our worth and our ability to carry on. Such moments may make us question the possibility of reaching where we saw our dreams.
While those draining moments would stuck around, true strength lies in choosing to rise after we fall. The courage to "try again tomorrow" is rooted in hope. That is, believing that even though today didn’t go as expected, tomorrow offers a new chance to start again.
Finding strength to start again is the Quiet courage that tells you to take that little step again as a toddler trying to learn how to walk afresh. Truth be told that real growth and transformation usually happen in small, often unseen, steps. Every time you choose to keep moving forward, no matter how slowly, is a display of quiet courage. The simplest form of expressing this courage is in the decision to get out of bed, to take care of yourself, or to reach out for help when you’re struggling.
These small steps over time would re-affirm our faith, building resilience, character, and strength in us. Though such steps may look insignificant in the moment, each step forward is a victory. And sometimes, the most courageous act of all is not giving up.
Tomorrow is a New Beginning
The beauty of tomorrow is that it offers a new beginning. Each day, you have the opportunity to let go of the disappointments of yesterday and move into the potential of what lies ahead. No matter how difficult the journey has been, each sunrise brings the promise of a fresh start. Courage is powerful not because we are perfect, but in pushing us to stand up again, to try once more.
Remember, your quiet courage matters! This piece is for everyone struggling to come out of as setback. You are not alone and that situation would not be your end. If you find yourself struggling, feeling as though you are not enough or that you’ve fallen short, remember this: courage doesn’t always roar. It doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Sometimes, the greatest act of bravery is found in the quiet moments when you tell yourself, “I will try again tomorrow.”
