Courage

This past week we had a Community Day at Seven Springs for Emmaus.  As you may know Emmaus provides housing for persons with intellectual disabilities.  My husband Jon and I both work at Emmaus and so does my mother.  Emmaus is just an extension of our family.  At community day we had a very nice luncheon followed by a talent show.  After the talent show we all enjoyed activities within the resort, including the Alpine Slide. 

My mother has been afraid of heights her entire life.  But she is one of the most courageous women I know.  She got on the ski lift and rode it up the mountain to come down on the Alpine Slide.  How awesome of a role model is she?  She raised me to face all my fears growing up because she did not want me to hide behind my fears like she felt she had.  Yes, she held on tight with her eyes closed.  She crawled down that mountain going so slow there were 4 unhappy kids behind her.  But she did it! 

I watched our newest residents climb on their Alpine Slide carts and go down that mountain for the first time.  I watched one of our residents (who Jon has never heard speak) get up on stage and speak through the microphone for the talent show.  Our executive director wrote show tunes about Emmaus and sang them with courage in front of us all.  They all had courage to do what they did.    

Even I faced a few fears that day.  First I rode the chair lift.  Now, it was not that I was afraid of heights, but I had a tremendous fear that overcame me that my shoe would fall off.  Now you might be laughing right now, but I have an immense fear of bare feet.  As I held my legs perfectly straight I managed to keep my shoes on.  I also rode a hydro-bike with Jon.  I do not know how to swim or ride a bike.  I have a fear of both, but with Jon I wanted to face that fear.  And I even did it with my shoes off in a dress!      

The dictionary defines courage as the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.  Every test you face as a leader begins with you.  Courage begins with an inward battle.  The test of courage is no different. 

It seems to me, reading about different leaders in our history, meeting leaders in life, and observing up coming leaders, they all have different traits.  But the one trait they all have is courage.  I have read and studied how they saw things, the vision they had and what they were going to do to get there.  Even the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz, though terrified, is ready to face danger.  It was on the way to Oz that he realized he already had the quality he thought he lacked. 

Most people live ordinary lives.  Just occasionally you meet someone who lives beyond the average - people who dare to not just dream but actually do.  Just like you and I.  We all can choose to live beyond the average if we dare.  I know we all have courage like the lion in the Wizard of Oz.

Most people have dreams.  But most do not have the courage to act upon their dreams.  How do you handle fear?  Are stretching experiences a regular part of your life?  Or have you retreated so far in your comfort zone that you don’t ever even feel fear? 

To improve your courage you simply have to face the music.  Go out and do something simply for the sake of growing in courage.  Rock climb, perform in a play, go white water rafting, it does not matter what you do as long as it causes you to face genuine fear.  Doing this will help you develop a spirit of courage in your life.  

The ironic thing is we all have fears; some people have the courage to take risks and those that don’t take chances worry about trivial things.  If you are going to overcome your fear and doubts anyway, you might as well make it count.  Remember, a courageous act often brings unexpected positive results.    

Sherri Lynn Dunik

Plan with Attitude. Prepare with Aptitude. Participate with Servitude, Receive with Gratitude. And that should be enough to Separate you from the Multitudes.

Pilot International Leadership Coordinator

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