seeing courage through the routine.

I've been thinking about the idea of courage lately.

Recently on dLife, they featured the incredible story of eva saxl. The author James Hirsch, who has written about eva saxl, was interviewed on the show. He said something during the interview along the lines that all people taking care of their chronic illness are living with courage every day. Which isn't a new concept to me but once reminded, has stuck with me throughout the last couple of weeks.

A few days later, while having lunch with a new friend, the subject of courage came up again, this time after I mentioned that I had lived with diabetes for over 20 years. My friend got quiet and after a moment, looked me in the eyes and said "You know, you live with courage every day. Every single day." I was surprised (and touched) to say the least. And, quite frankly, left a little speechless. Courage every day. There it was again. And yes, after a moment of reflection, I thought, I know that's true about a life with chronic illness. I certainly see it in other people's journeys with diabetes. Easily. But I forget about it in my own, because I'm just doing what it takes to get through. You know, everyday stuff, because diabetes is there to be taken care of, throughout every day. Every single day.

So what occurs to me is how the routine of what we do becomes just that, routine. In the process of doing what it takes, day in and day out, the aspect of what that means, the courage, the fortitude, the grace, can so easily get lost in the shuffle. Others might see it, but it's easy for me to forget it about myself. Even as I write these words, I feel worried about sounding prideful or arrogant. And yet there it is, the universe saying yes, it takes courage to do this. Courage. Every. Single. Day.

Comments

[Minnesota Nice]

Absolutely. Prideful? Maybe - why shouldn't we take pride in the fact that we deal with something as vast and yet encompassing as db? I am proud of myself and of everyone else out there who navigates the rocky choppy db waters and remains afloat.
And, you are so right in saying that this can just "slip" into the "routine" category.
Be proud. Stay strong. Trust your inner wisdom to guide you to the right choices.

[birdie]

I guess what I find is that it's easy to loose sight of the courage it takes to do this disease well, and that the reflections back, your affirming words, the observations of others, all help me to remember and be proud again. I am grateful for that, and the sense that others are there when I need to be reminded of that.

[Scott K. Johnson]

One of you two (birdie or MN Nice) once used the phrase "everyday courage", and it resonated with me.

We really do exhibit a lot of courage, but it is so often unseen, much like our diabetes. We know it inside, but our minds so often undermine our own great accomplishments. Maybe because we can get to feeling so beat up over the little things.

[Jayne]

Thank you.

[Bernard Farrell]

Birdie

I do love your posts. You've got a real skill in expressing what is buried in my heart. Thanks.

[Annie]

I don't know why this made me cry but it did. I think because you articulate so well how I feel with so many of your posts and it is so poignant for me to know that I am not alone. Thank you.

Annie

[Amylia]

Another lovely post, Birdie. I sometimes forget how courageous I really am--we all are, and it gets lost in the shuffle of life. Thanks for the reminder.

[Cara]

Sometimes it doesn't seem very courageous. But we are. We deal with, every day, what some people think they could never do in a million years.

[Seonaid]

I love this idea of "everyday courage". I sometimes forget it too, because this is just life to me- but we really do have courage every single day.