The Courage Chronicles: Week 9

The Price of Progress is Persistence

Every day, my short-legged pup teaches me the most fundamental truth about achieving anything worthwhile: you've got to work for it. With four determined little lunges before each big leap – whether it's getting into the car or climbing the stairs — he builds momentum and courage. No shortcuts, no elevator option, just pure determination and calculated effort. He reminds me that nothing worth doing comes without resistance.

Need that reminder too? Then turn up Daphne Willis's "Work For It" – our anthem for those moments when the mountain looks too high, when feedback feels like a verdict, or when doubt tries to take the driver's seat.

This Week in Uplifter Courage

🏃‍♀️ Cheering each other on

Julie B. Hughes – author, runner, and mother – is taking on her first ultra this weekend at the JFK Ultramarathon. She's carrying more than just her own determination on those 50 miles; she's bringing the names of loved ones with her, making each step a shared journey of hope and remembrance. Drop a comment below to send your encouragement – let's be with her every step of the way, because Uplifters rise higher together. Hear her story ⬇️.

🕊️ Learning from one another

Sundari Malcolm, a former guest on The Uplifters Podcast, Grief and Death Doula and Author of the book Grief Gems,  is opening a virtual Training Academy for Spiritually led Grief and Death Doulas. It will be a self paced learning program and will offer 6 modules of study. This beautiful program begins on December 30th, and as enrollment is ongoing, she's offering a FREE Q&A on January 7th. Here is the link to RSVP for that session. If you'd like to learn more about The Academy HERE is the link for all of the details. This is for women only. Hear her story ⬇️.

💪 Supporting our community

Maysoon Zayid (Episode 67), the brilliant comedian, author, and disability activist, needs our community's support. After a challenging year, she's bridging a financial gap until her NYU teaching position begins in February. Support her Disability Media Revolution Fundraising by clicking here. Hear her story ⬇️.

Your Turn!

What mountains are you working to climb? Like my pup's daily victories, every achievement starts with those first tentative steps. Our podcast's almost 100 episodes showcase individuals who've embraced the friction, letting it forge them into stronger versions of themselves. Sometimes our deepest struggles are just preparing us for our most meaningful work.

Let’s all keep reminding each other that the resistance we’re feeling is not a stop sign – it's our training ground.

Ok, let’s go do it. Turn up the volume on "Work For It," take those preparatory lunges, and show us what you're working towards. Because nothing worth doing comes easy, but that's exactly what makes it worth doing.

What bravery did you see or practice this week? I'd really love to hear your stories. Reply to this email, share in our private Facebook group, or comment directly on this Substack post.

Until next week, stay brave!

Aransas

P.S. Our listener survey is still open. Will I ever close it? TBD. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete and you’ll have a hand in shaping the future of The Uplifters Podcast and Substack.

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