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My Heroes Have Always Been Strong

I have always admired fictional characters and historical figures of strength and courage.  I devoured biographies about people like Queen Elizabeth I, Harry Truman, and Joan of Arc as a child.  I still read novels with central characters showing those qualities. 

I have recently come to see that I am also drawn to characters who show the qualities of acceptance, patience, wisdom, self-trust, and practicality.  Does that mean that I have any of these qualities?  Or does it mean I want them?

I believe it means both.  I have come to see that I have courage and strength.  I am still here and still trudging the road.  I know that my life may not look like it takes courage to face, but there are challenges every day that take a straightening of shoulders, a deep breath and forging on. 

I think the trials of the last 4 years have brought new life to my willingness and ability to be brave.  I also believe I have learned to be more patient and accepting than at any time in my life.  So much has changed in my world and I keep breathing through. 

I am able to demonstrate practical wisdom and trust of myself in more ways than I ever believed possible.  I have had to depend on my own sense of things and my own interpretation of the facts and truth in order to see my way.  I have made mistakes, of course, but I have gained knowledge each time.  I have experience.

The experience itself can be a factor as it is easy to fall into the trap of believing what has been, will be.  It is not true or doesn't have to be true.  And looking beyond experience, looking into the abyss of an unknown future, takes courage.

Indeed, I do have all these qualities and I want them.   I want more of them.  I want to hone my willingness to accept and to trust my own intuition and wisdom.  I am gaining strength and courage daily.  I am learning to breath into patience.  

As I continue this journey, I look to the heroes in stories for inspiration.  I see how they show patience and trust with themselves and others, summon courage as needed, accept what cannot be changed, look for what they can change and do it, and know who they are at the core through it all.  And I find inspiration in their stories and in my own. 


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