Rob Field, CSW Director
I think there’s someone we can’t see in this photo. Imagine a nearby friend who calls out just before the leap, “Yes, you can do this.”
That’s what courage feels like to me. When I draw back from a new challenge, I find encouragement when I hear a friend (or possibly a friendly voice in my head) saying, “Rob, you’ve got this. Take that leap; you’ll be okay.”
I was asked to speak at a recent community gathering about hope, and I ended up talking about courage. “Hope and courage are close cousins,” I said. “If you’re looking for hope, cultivate courage.” Courage comes from the heart — literally and figuratively. The word derives from a phrase in old French that means to take heart. A popular search engine says courage “stems from a deep connection to one’s heart, values, and purpose, as well as external factors like social support.” Yes, indeed.
Here at CSW, we’re actively reflecting on courage and the future. We’ve named our 2025 celebration Sacred Courage, Vibrant Future, and will be highlighting the theme at our in-person event on Thursday, November 13th at 5:30 PM. This is your invitation from me: please come! We will celebrate what we’ve accomplished with your help since our founding in 2016, and look ahead to our 10th anniversary next year. There will be good food and drink, live music, and lots to celebrate. Please buy a ticket today and plan to join us.
I am convinced we will take heart and find our courage when we remind each other of the things that bless us, Earth, and all creatures. That’s the formula: Sacred Courage for a Vibrant Future.
photo by Getty Images via Unsplash
photo by Getty Images via Unsplash