The Year of Courage, final season

Occasionally a little voice whispers in my ear the words that I need to guide me.

Around the close of 2013, the word "courage" was whispered to me. It struck something deep in my heart, and that twang saw me through a turbulent spring. Between January and June, I made several brave leaps that involved acting on faith, speaking up about my dreams, and trusting the process. They all paid off handsomely, letting me know that courage was indeed what I was called to express.

My first Lobby Day at the U.S. Capitol

This summer, I let courage take me into the natural world for some adventure. I tried out whitewater kayaking, and loved it. I swam over a mile in open water, and I didn't exactly love it, but I completed it and still had a smile on my face.

Through it all, I conquered many of my biggest fears to take action and speak my mind about injustice, and I can only assume I've grown immensely through the process. I feel very proud of having lived my life more fully and less driven by fear, that much is clear. And I had some amazing experiences, which have made my life much more rich.

But there is still a fear that needs conquering. A fear of screwing up when people are watching. A fear of being so different that nobody will want to come with me down the path. A fear that the only type of courage is being brave enough to leap, to speak, to try.

Occasionally a little voice whispers in my ear the words I need to know. Sometimes those words are on a page, written by another seeker.

Today, they were hidden here, in plain sight.

After a very triumphant year, this fall is the perfect time to turn inward and find out what courage I have left. To take on my doubts - in myself, in my God, in my fellow human beings. To take on the urge to be busy and restless and not listen for the next crumb of guidance. To face my fear of finding out what the beat of my drum sounds like, and dancing wildly to it.

And that is definitely going to take some serious courage, and a different kind of bravery than I've been working on externally. Being brave enough to listen to myself and trust my own inner wisdom.