Our lives are filled with mentors and mentees as we apprentice ourselves to living wholeheartedly.  My mentor to become a Courage &  Renewal Facilitator, Debbie Stanley, taught me not only about holding space as a facilitator, but how to Live Courage in all aspects of life.  As Debbie enters into a new chapter of life as a grandmother, she continues to "turn to wonder" and shares her story with us here.  May we each apprentice ourselves to wonder, trust, and deep listening throughout our lives.  With gratitude to all our intergenerational teachers,  Holly

Deryka Nairne is a student life professional at Goucher College in Maryland. In 2015, as a graduate student at the University of Vermont's (UVM), Deryka worked with Holly Wilkinson to bring courage work to college students. They recently co-authored an article, "What's Love Got to Do with It?" in The Vermont Connection Journal about the importance of the inner journey of self-love in the academy.  Photo: Holly's Courage mentor, Debbie Stanley, and Holly's graduate school mentee: Deryka Nairne, at Holly's first Circle of Trust in spring 2015. Living wholeheartedly is part of the gifts of these two women.  

I host a monthly coffee house in a small rural town in Nova Scotia, Canada. It’s an intergenerational space, we always have performers and an audience that range from teenagers to people in their sixties and everything in between, and it is not uncommon to see that age range extended on both ends. It’s a very generous and welcoming space and all performers receive appreciations and acknowledgement regardless of abilities, experience or style. It’s always heartening, during the intermission, and see these generations mingling in this informal space.

Living with intention, integrity and courage takes practice.  This month's invitation focuses on speaking your truth.  May it support your core foundation to live with heart and action.    

February's Touchstone: Speak your truth in ways that respect other people’s truth. Speak from your center, using “i” statements, trusting people to do their own sifting and winnowing.  

“One can, I think, listen someone into existence, [and] encourage a stronger self to emerge…” Mary Rose O’Reilly

This quote was on the wall during a seasonal Circle of Trust at Bishop Booth Conference Center.  Listening is such a powerful piece of each Circle of Trust I’ve been a part of, over the past 17 years. We listen to each other. We don’t chit chat back and forth, making small talk. We give open-hearted listening and acceptance. What a gift to offer, and what a gift to receive!

Seventeen years ago, I was led to these retreats, and I keep coming back, as I continue to explore who I am in this mysterious life I’m living. Here’s another wall quote that I love, from Thomas Merton: “The issues of life are not problems to solve, but mysteries to be entered.”

Our life journeys include wide & interconnected circles.  "Living Courage" is a monthly invitation to pause, reflect, and align your courageous heart through living the principles and practices of Courage work.  In 2018, each month will focus on one of the 12 Courage & Renewal Touchstones in order to integrate them into our daily lives.  This is about practice, not perfection - and extends beyond the boundaries of a circle or retreat.