Friday, June 21, 2013

YOU are Courage in Motion


Some days we leap out of bed
Ready for whatever comes
Feeling as if we can take on the world
Cheering silently:  BRING IT ON.
Some days we peel our asses out of bed
Wishing we could take a pass
Dreading anything and everything
That needs our attention
Sighing to let out the angst.
But wherever we are
On any given day
We find that next gear
We muster the courage to do
What we gotta do.


After my morning run, I peeled off my sweaty clothes and threw on a dry T-shirt and shorts.  I grabbed the next T-shirt in the pile giving no thought as to which one I wanted to wear while writing.  Looking in the mirror as I washed my face, I read the words printed in white letters against the black shirt:  Courage (Find it).  These words and this shirt took me back in time remembering when I had bought it 8 years ago after my brother, Michael, died; and I got one for his wife, Jeanne, telling her that she was Courage in motion, as she met each day doing whatever was necessary to take care of herself in the midst of the grief.

Shortly after Michael died, I gave a talk to a group of runners training for the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon, the largest half marathon in the world which is held annually in Indianapolis.  They had trained for 4 months and were about to line up and go on a 13.1 mile journey that would challenge them mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  I invited them to view the race as a personal odyssey that would show them more of who they are, sharing that my experience has been that the person who lines up to start the race isn’t the one that crosses the finish line. 

I shared the story with the group of when I qualified for the Boston Marathon running 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 37 minutes shocking the hell out of myself, shaving 26 minutes off my best marathon time prior to this.  I immediately thought to myself:  What else?  What else have I doubted I could do but now, I am ready to do?  How else have I limited myself but now, I know there is always more? When we shatter our personal limits, we free more of our Self to come out and play and live.  It makes us bolder as we stand in a sense of strength that we forget is within us.

Breaking down the mental aspect of completing 13.1 miles, I spoke of staying in the moment, mantras, self-talk and reminded them:  YOU are courage in motion!  As you take each step, remind yourself:  I am courage in motion…I am courage in motion…I am courage in motion and watch yourself find that next gear that you didn’t even know existed.  Feel the energy surge through your body, mind, heart and soul as you shock the hell out of yourself, discovering that there is always more.  And when you cross that finish line, take a bow and celebrate your Self knowing: YOU are courage in motion.  Let this be a springboard for more exploration as you stand taller than you ever have before inviting life to Bring it on!

Out of every talk I have ever given over the past 10 years, there has never been a one-liner that caused more feedback than YOU are courage in motion!  I still get emails from people saying that this has become their life mantra and all it inspires in their life. 

We all know the drill:  Some days we leap out of bed ready for whatever comes feeling as if we can take on the world cheering silently:  BRING IT ON. Some days we peel our asses out of bed, wishing we could take a pass, dreading anything and everything that needs our attention, sighing to let out the angst. But wherever we are on any given day, we find that next gear we muster the courage to do what we gotta do.

We are creatures of soul and this is where we find the next gear, the well of courage that shocks the hell out of us, revealing the more that bubbles up throughout our lifetime. Emily Dickinson said it best with her poetic verse:  No cowards soul is mine.  The invitation this day is to remember:  YOU are courage in motion.  YOU are.  No debating this truth.  Accept it.  Own it.  Be it.  Live it.  Say thank you.

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