Daily Question, September 21 Whose courage has inspired me? Why? 26 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. Michele1 year agoMicheleMy mom had to have courage to live with CREST for over 30 yrs. Watching her go through painful periods of various finger amputations, having her esophagus stretched multiple times, so many more medical problems later on, then palliative care, hospice. I’m glad she is at peace and not suffering anymore. 1 Reply Ose1 year agoOseWhen I was young, and until today, it was Martin Luther King jr. His true engagement for freedom, justice, peace and brotherhood of mankind, expressed as well so deeply touching in his legendary speech “I have a dream” has and still is inspiring me. I just read it again, and still it reaches down to my bones and up to my spirit. Such an inspiring courage. He to me is a true human with a great heart for all which is. 6 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteThere are of course many amazing leaders to choose from both personal family members as well as inspirational public figures to choose from. Thick Nhat Hanh’s courage inspires me because through his challenges he was able to teach us about where our home truly resides. Within ourselves- the Buddha taught us that the way out is in. Even though he was excommunicated from his home in Vietnam, Thay was never full of hate or anger. He’s an inspiration for what love and truth truly mean. H...There are of course many amazing leaders to choose from both personal family members as well as inspirational public figures to choose from. Thick Nhat Hanh’s courage inspires me because through his challenges he was able to teach us about where our home truly resides. Within ourselves- the Buddha taught us that the way out is in. Even though he was excommunicated from his home in Vietnam, Thay was never full of hate or anger. He’s an inspiration for what love and truth truly mean. He is a real bodhisattva waking among us. He is indeed a treasure of wealth of information about how to lead a life full of meaning. I am so grateful to have lived on this planet while he is alive. Read More6 Reply Iwalkalone1 year agoIwalkaloneThank you, Antoinette. Sometimes the world just feels like a lonely place. But I am glad to be here. 1 Reply Iwalkalone1 year agoIwalkaloneI read a book called Mans Search For Meaning at a time of darkness in my life. The author, Viktor Frankl, wrote about his experience in the Holocaust, including losing his entire family and watching many suffer and die. Through his own suffering and during a time of great despair, he never lost hope, he chose to rise above, help, love and give back to others. His message has inspired me to remember no matter what life circumstances are, I can choose my attitude, and I can use my own experience ...I read a book called Mans Search For Meaning at a time of darkness in my life. The author, Viktor Frankl, wrote about his experience in the Holocaust, including losing his entire family and watching many suffer and die. Through his own suffering and during a time of great despair, he never lost hope, he chose to rise above, help, love and give back to others. His message has inspired me to remember no matter what life circumstances are, I can choose my attitude, and I can use my own experience to help others struggling. Read More3 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteI loved that book. And you never walk alone. 2 Reply Journey1 year agoJourneyMy friends adopted a little girl aged 1 year old. They had a biological son aged 3 at the time. They had a hard time with the adopted baby girl as the little girl must have sensed rejection from her birth mother and kept pushing my friends away even as a baby, long nights of crying and tantrums etc. My friends persisted in loving and raising their adopted baby and their biological son. The brother and sister formed a close bond and the adopted girl worshiped her older brother. My friends then t...My friends adopted a little girl aged 1 year old. They had a biological son aged 3 at the time. They had a hard time with the adopted baby girl as the little girl must have sensed rejection from her birth mother and kept pushing my friends away even as a baby, long nights of crying and tantrums etc. My friends persisted in loving and raising their adopted baby and their biological son. The brother and sister formed a close bond and the adopted girl worshiped her older brother. My friends then tragically lost their son in a train accident when he was 19. He was talented and loved by so many. My friends have aged oversight you can see the grief etched in their faces. However while so heartbroken they are still are so courageous and graceful and smiling and have not lost their faith in God. The three of them take short breaks away from the city to go into places of peace and quiet so they can just grieve. It is heartbreaking but their strength and attitude is admirable and so inspiring. Read More5 Reply 1 year agorecently I read an article (see below) about grief and the author describes his meeting with the young Tibetan monk Sonam: ~ “Sonam had lost track of his family in the Chinese occupation tumult. But heartbroken as he was, he was at the same time the happiest person I had ever met. Sonam simply exuded joy — while also grieving. Once, while crying about his family, I even put my arm around his shoulder and he laughed, saying, “Ja-ma, you funny, dis bery sad, no problem.” That little saying...recently I read an article (see below) about grief and the author describes his meeting with the young Tibetan monk Sonam: ~ “Sonam had lost track of his family in the Chinese occupation tumult. But heartbroken as he was, he was at the same time the happiest person I had ever met. Sonam simply exuded joy — while also grieving. Once, while crying about his family, I even put my arm around his shoulder and he laughed, saying, “Ja-ma, you funny, dis bery sad, no problem.” That little saying, “bery sad, no problem,”…. “~How inspiring is this?? I really take this to heart :” very sad, no problem”…relating also to today’s WORD FOR THE DAY (the article was published in the magazine lion’s roar under the title’ That Time I Sobbed My Way Through a Himalayan Meditation Retreat’) I also have a very personal experience of true courage : somebody risking herself in order to help another on the path. it’s not easy to face one’s failures, but even more courage is needed from the friend who is willing to point them out – it’s an act of true compassion, but not always easy to recognize ? Read More6 Reply GCharlotte1 year agoGCharlotteEmily Dickenson inspired me because she had lived a life dedicated to her parents and home leading an austere life boldly writing when her style was not the norm today being named a Saint. 4 Reply Wiltrud1 year agoWiltrudA good question to take into the day. I rather admire courage. As I need courage for an important change I could try to look for persons who inspire me. Of course I find inspiration and confidence here, but I also need to talk and listen. 3 Reply Samuel1 year agoSamuelMy late wife, Penny Luv, who survived ovarian cancer in 1995 only to have it return with a vengence twenty years later. This time it was such an aggressive mutation that there was no effective treatment available. Three years later she was dead. But, in spite of knowing she was doomed, she never lost her love of her Lord or of others nor her sweet happiness nor her trademark smile. She was full of grace to the very end. I pray that I may do even half so well as that when my time comes… sb 9 Reply Wiltrud1 year agoWiltrudSamuel, somehow the word “grace” appeals to me and makes me wonder what a wonderful woman your wife must have been and your text helps me to continue my day on higher ground. 3 Reply Samuel1 year agoSamuelWiltrud, Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I know of no other words but “full of grace” to describe my late wife. I am grateful for having shared a lifetime with her, and also for having made your day a wee bit better than it might otherwise been. See? Penny Luv’s magic is still at work from yet another plane… sb 5 Reply Debra1 year agoDebraI met someone for lunch who I had never met before recently. We both had lost a longtime spouse within the last year or so. He said that he rarely talked with anyone outside of immediate family about his loss. In a beautiful setting in the hills overlooking the Pacific, he courageously shared with me the loss of his wife of 46 years to ovarian cancer and the pain and suffering she went through and what he endured. He felt comfortable enough to allow himself to break down and cry. He had been&...I met someone for lunch who I had never met before recently. We both had lost a longtime spouse within the last year or so. He said that he rarely talked with anyone outside of immediate family about his loss. In a beautiful setting in the hills overlooking the Pacific, he courageously shared with me the loss of his wife of 46 years to ovarian cancer and the pain and suffering she went through and what he endured. He felt comfortable enough to allow himself to break down and cry. He had been&…I met someone for lunch who I had never met before recently. We both had lost a longtime spouse within the last year or so. He said that he rarely talked with anyone outside of immediate family about his loss. In a beautiful setting in the hills overlooking the Pacific, he courageously shared with me the loss of his wife of 46 years to ovarian cancer and the pain and suffering she went through and what he endured. He felt comfortable enough to allow himself to break down and cry. He had been a courageous caregiver to ‘his love of his life’ and had boxed it all up. And here I was with someone I had only just met, and he honored me by allowing his feelings to finally flow. What courage it takes to see a love one pass to cancer and to love them so completely almost to the exclusion of oneself. I may never see this man again but he left a lasting impression on me of what courage it takes to faithfully commit wholeheartedly to your partner, who’s in excruciating pain and suffering and to do so loving so fully. Read More7 Reply Pilgrim1 year agoPilgrimDear Debra, thank you for sharing this encounter with us. I want to say also that I am very sorry for your own tremendous loss. 3 Reply Debra1 year agoDebraThank you, Pilgrim and for all your honest, forthright sharings. You have taught me so much. Blessings. Debra 2 Reply Samuel1 year agoSamuelDebra, You and I share an amazing gift. Many times during my life I have had casual acquaintances unexpectedly open up about some personal problem in their lives that they need to share with someone they perceive as safe and trustworthy of their secret. Some have been friends who know their secrets have never been divulged. Others have been total strangers that I never saw again. But each has gone away feeling relieved that they were at last able to share their burden with someone else… sb 4 Reply Debra1 year agoDebraThank you, Samuel. Since I was a child, strangers/acquaintances have always shared remarkable unveilings to me, but quite honestly this is the first time I have seen it potentially as a ‘gift’. Something to ponder as this beautiful day unfolds. 4 Reply Sarah1 year agoSarahSuch a powerful story. Thank you for sharing Debra; this touched my heart on many levels. Losing my husband was the most painful experience in my life. I take comfort most in hearing how others travel the journey of this grief. It’s the loneliest of grieving. 4 Reply Debra1 year agoDebraSarah, I am sorry for your own loss and your openness to hear about others’ loss. Peace to you. Debra 2 Reply Carla1 year agoCarlaWith full appreciation for all that she did & how she used her inner skills & tools of tenacity to walk through life, my own mom, Catherine Ann inspires me. In the early 1960’s she secured a divorce & found freedom from an unhealthy & abusive spouse. She stood up to (her) the Church to do this & creatively with strength & character raised 5 kids alone at the age of 41. Her faith in God, humor & work ethics sustained her. 7 Reply Sarah1 year agoSarahI echo what Kevin says. My friends battling cancer with grace and perseverance inspires me. Also a friend who has recently lost a daughter to addiction inspires me with her walk in grief. Unimaginable trials these souls are experiencing, I am grateful to call them my friends. 5 Reply Journey1 year agoJourneyEvery parent’s biggest fear is the safety and well being of their kids. Hoping and praying for them to always be in the right company and not get into vices that can take their lives away. A colleague at work lost their older son to addiction. My prayers are with your friend. 2 Reply Kevin1 year agoKevinI have a couple of friends who battle mightily with debilitating cancer day after day. They inspire me with their determination to continue living the best life that they can and remain upbeat and positive in spite of their disease. 8 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteHi Kevin, Upbeat and positive in spite of a disease is inspiring! You know what it is like to have a lot of pain. I think suffering does teach us so much about gratitude. 1 Reply Kevin1 year agoKevinPain does indeed have much to teach, Antoinette. Whenever I have the opportunity to interact with specific people who live with pain, and yet who also exude equal measures of grace, perseverance and gratitude for the “good” all around them, it stops me in my tracks with awe. 1 Reply My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb