Courage

Dear Friends,

Winter is in full force on the Kenai Peninsula, and with it, the opportunity for reflection on the state of the world, and on our past year, as well as looking forward to the seasons ahead. Now that the darkest days are over, I personally am shifting slightly away from reflections and more towards planning for all the activities of Spring and Summer. My daily activities are mundane and repetitive, yet my heart is stirring with little excitements and my imagination soars with the possibilities. I am overwhelmed with plans.

If you are like me, it is easy to be quite anxious about the future in these politically divisive, environmentally dangerous, financially insecure and socially distant years. In response to these anxieties, it’s tempting to simply shrug my shoulders, try to forget about that which I can’t easily change, and focus on what differences I can make. What’s the garden going to look like this year? Can we make those changes in the house we’ve been hoping for? Can I create/write a new training curriculum? Learn to cook new things?

I recommend this approach. It keeps me sane. However, occasionally, in the middle of a snowy evening, perhaps when the headlines are especially dark - it’s needed to scan inside, for an emotional reality check: am I burying big fears which are weighing me down? If yes, perhaps they need to be shared, heard, seen and receive some empathy, validation, and acknowledgment. We all have big fears, and no, we aren’t crazy - these are fearful, some might say perilous times. Our fears are often valid. And much of the political, environmental and human societal outcomes that will shape our lives are beyond our control. Truth.

This isn’t a good enough reason to give up in hopelessness, nor to experience less joy and agency in our lives. Experiencing and expressing fears can be integral to letting them float away and hold less weight. They will always spiral around again, but they don’t have to shape our other experiences and powers. In the forest, often poisonous plants grow next to the antidote. Similarly, within and amongst our fears, grows our courage to keep moving forward and manifesting our small and big visions. We are all warriors now; we are all becoming the courageous ones we read about as children. The times shape us, and courage is needed in these times, just to get through the year.; to plant the garden; to plan berry picking; to show up at school or quit that job or join a movement or whatever your next steps are…. Every day, bringing the courage and every day, savoring the joy.

And here is a song about courage.

In solidarity,

Eliza