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Like starting this blog-moving from ghost writing to putting my own words out into the world for acceptance or rejection.
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Like being brave when I stood over my mom watching her have a heart attack as I called 911. Historically, brave felt like a word for “the big stuff.” Like being brave when I learned about the tumor I had the size of a rugby ball. Having lived with this quote for a month, I saw brave in a new context.
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The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.Being in a constant erosion of what is not essential.Never hide your green hair, people can see it anyway.In a moment of ego we refuse to put down what we carry in order to open the door.
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Some of the phrases I collected over the 31 days of January include: It’s with her tradition in mind that I chose this quote on bravery to start the new year. I was impressed by her openness and in awe of her public accountability on such a personal thing – how her year went in terms of her intention. Then, at the end of each year she’d send another email about how the word showed up over the past 12 months and what she learned from it. The chosen word set her intention for the year. She went into detail about why that word spoke to her. At the start of each year, she’d personally write a moving email to her full staff of thousands about her word for the year. Several years ago, I provided change communications and speech writing support to retired Brigadier General Alison Hickey when she was Under Secretary of the Veterans Benefits Administration. For January 2022, the quote was “She was never quite ready. I found this practice centers me for the month, and helps me be more present in my conversations, meetings, and readings. I write it in my planner and leave space below it to capture phrases I hear or read that speak to me and relate to the quote. As I set up my calendar for the month, I select a quote I’ve found that speaks to me.
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