Go Ahead...I Dare You!

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." (Audre Lorde)


“Go on – I dare you!”

Do you remember that childhood challenge?

Those words from the right bully or best friend could push us to do scary, unthinkable things…jump from crazy places, eat unspeakable things, venture into places we’d never dreamed. The vision, the desire to meet the challenge, sprouted up and grew right alongside our biggest fears. But somehow we got past our fear and went for it – we tried.

We jumped as high, ran as fast, swallowed as hard and swam as far as we could. We tapped into a hidden strength and felt a power we didn’t know we had until someone said, “I dare you.” We pushed ourselves through a limit, and then we saw ourselves in a new way. We became the Person Who Tried or The Person Who Did It. And magically, we were changed. Even though we thought we couldn’t. Even though we were scared.

What about now? Is there something you’d love to do…to try? Perhaps right now it’s just a possibility – a possible “you” who runs marathons or writes poetry or smiles or creates amazing things or forgives or learns or teaches or skydives? Do you have a vision of yourself beyond who you are today? What will push you - take you - beyond your fear (that same old childhood fear, all grown up) that you don’t have what it takes, that you can’t do it, you’d never make it?

How about re-thinking your self-image rather than assuming it can’t be done?

Can you make that dream, that vision, a reality?

Go on…I dare you!

(photo courtesy of Elaine MacCorkle)

A Loving Reflection

Here in Dublin tonight – or the early hours of the morning – the wind is raging. Trees bend low and silhouette branches dance wildly. Jet lag has me up and at the computer…a month in the US was enough to re-set my body clock, I guess. Looking at the date of my last entry, I see I’ve been away for a while now. In the interim I had one of the most powerful, meaningful and fulfilling experiences of my life: the privilege of caring for my sweet, sweet sister-in-law, Kathy, through her last stages of pancreatic cancer. At the age of 54, Kathleen C. Delaney died on the morning of August 12th.

I still do not have words to explain, or even a full understanding of what this experience means to me. They will come in time.

I do not know how I could possibly translate the immeasurable dimensions of what she brought to what are now the immeasurable parts of me. Some things cannot be bounded or contained.

I do not know exactly how the precious, golden strands of Kathy, and my time with, her will be woven through the fabric of my life. I need more distance to see the pattern clearly.

But, what I do know is this: Our time together, as well as her attitude, dignity and strength have provided me with a multitude of gifts, a lifetime of contemplation and many lessons that will unfold. Her presence will be with me always.

I also know that I am more resolute than ever in my desire to live life “on purpose”; to help others listen to and follow their hearts so they can live their lives on purpose – so they can create a purposeful life.

Kathy, dear heart, you were – are – the most elegant of teachers, and I am so deeply grateful for the gift of your life.