Courage is a Choice
We’ve been happily slammed with out of town guests this entire month and this weekend was a small break before we have 2 more visits the next 2 weekends. So we decided to make the most of our time alone and regroup.
After sleeping in Friday morning, we quickly went through weekend chores and got the oil changed in the car. For us, it feels good to get those out of the way first time. Then, we picked back up some of our favorite weekend rhythms.
As we get to know our new state, we love exploring small towns around us. Bardstown, KY is known as “The Most Beautiful Small Town in America” and it also happens to be the Bourbon Capital of the world. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. We spent an hour or so walking around the tiny shops and downtown area. My heart almost exploded as we walked into the tiny store selling products from a local alpaca farm—owning alpacas is 100% my long term life goal! Each store we walked into had beautiful displays, lovely chatty employees, and samples of teas and bourbons. There’s also a very well crafted podcast about the recent mysterious unsolved crimes in this little town that we definitely binged the way home. It had all of my favorite things, and I’m so grateful for built in rhythms that inspire us explore and taste and see.
Coming back home, we spent Saturday morning in our spiritual disciplines group (growing my faith is a constant personal goal) and then met some new friends for lunch (another goal: build community in our new town). We ended the evening with red wine, low music, flickering fire, and playing around with watercolors. All in all, a great weekend of cultivating a life I love.
Isn’t this beautiful? Also LOL to how KY claims ol’ Lincoln.
Mural in Riot Book Cellar/ Shaq & Coco by local KY artist @sycomorum_artem_
As Sunday drew to a close, I went through my usual Sunday routine to prep for the week (feed my sourdough starter, water the plants, check the bank account & finance app, paint my nails, journal about this week, and tidy up the house, make a weekly to-do list, and get to bed on time). But I also made sure to finish some projects so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed getting ready for guests on Wednesday—I made their bed, freshened the bathroom, put an order in for grocery pick up on Tuesday)
It was as I was completing these Sunday rhythms and hanging up clothes that I had the Sunday Thought I wanted to share with you this week:
My husband, William, recently inherited an entire closet’s worth of dress clothes from one of our dear friends who lost her beloved husband. She said it was better knowing William was getting use out of them, and we were incredibly touched & thankful. Each and every time I do the laundry and hang up his shirts, I take a minute and pray. I pray for her, thanking God for her incredibly bright spirit and her constant love for others. I thank God for her example of living a worthy life even through the most trying of times. (I could go on and on about her moxie, but I won’t.) I pray for peace that passes all understanding for those who are grieving and those who are tenderly showing up for life as they now know it. And I pray for energy and love as I am reminded of my opportunity to cherish my relationships. For a brief few minutes, I pause and remember that even in the mundane tasks of life like hanging clothes, we can choose a spirit of gratitude and joy and peace and love.
Choose Courage: Absolutely in love with the painting of the woman (didn’t catch artist name) & these colors! in Shaq & Coco
Earlier in that morning, I sat next to someone who was extremely nervous to do some public speaking. Totally normal & understandable! But as she fearfully bounced her leg up and down, waiting her turn, I leaned over and whispered, “Courage is a choice.” It might not have been the most encouraging words to say in that moment, but they were the most truthful ones I could find. Courage is a choice. Same as thankfulness and faithfulness and joy. Same as making the decision to love others and ourselves.
At Cultivate Life Coaching, we rebel against the mediocrity of life by embracing our authentic selves. And the first step to creating intentional rhythms is choosing how we show up.
So remember courage is a choice. Joy is a choice. And cultivating a life you love is making those intentional choices over and over and over again.
