Only You Know If You Have the Courage

For week twenty-two in our fifty week Calligraphy challenge we were asked to combine lettering with some other art form. I thought practically and functionally which drew me to decorating. I needed a new bedside lamp so I bought a cheap black lamp with a white shade from Target. I then lettered directly on the shade followed by wiping it with a paper towel. The words are the bedtime prayer ‘Now I lay me down to sleep’. I think it turned out pretty well.

Risks can be scary, daunting, even frightening at times. However if we never risk we won’t move forward. If we avoid conflict, the unknown, and brutal honesty we end up exactly as we are. Nothing changes, nothing gets better, nothing makes us a better version of ourself. This might sound safe and rather boring at the same time.

I bought a lamp and made it better by daring to write on it. Nice thing is no one else has this lamp. It is a one of a kind. The only way I got it was to take a risk. The only way to be a one of a kind person – in character, interests, in skills and beliefs – is to risk learning, saying and believing in your one true self. Anyone can follow the trends, they come and go. A truly unique individual stays true to themselves as they watch the trends go whizzing by year after year.

What would happen if you took the risk you’ve been avoiding until now? What is the worst thing that could happen? Maybe something would fall apart, maybe it’s time for that thing to fall apart so something better, smarter, faster can take its place. Maybe if you step out and stop letting fear prevent you from moving forward the person you are could become the person you have always wanted to be. It’s a risk. Only you know if you have the courage to take that risk.