Courage and Passion

Vol 4 No 2

Reflections on courage - which seem particularly fitting for an Honors audience..

This past weekend I had the distinct pleasure and honor to be a guest at the VIP luncheon and then the induction ceremony for the National Women’s Hall of fame.  I was, for a brief time, in the presence of greatness and I cannot truly express what I was feeling at the time.  When Louise Slaughter’s granddaughter spoke in her memory and she categorized the experience as being both humbling and uplifting, I felt much the same.  I found myself thinking, more than once, that I needed to learn more and do more. 

Each inductee – from the fiery Angela Davis to the impassioned Sonia Sotomayor – spoke to us of their gratitude for the honor and the recognition.  And each directed their words toward, in part, the 300 students who were present from schools all around the area.  I began to notice a pattern in many of their words.  They talked about the environment, law, science, the arts, the rights of women, the battles won and the battles yet to come.  Each seemed to have her own issue upon which she focused, but there was still a pattern.

Courage.  Passion.  Working together.

Almost every one of the inductees or their representatives spoke about how important it was, in these most trying times, to be courageous, to find the issues that quicken your heart and then act on them through the courage of conviction.  In spite of the naysayers, in spite of the dissenting voices, in spite of a world that often seems without hope, we must find our voices and speak up and out.  We have to save the only world we have.  We have to shatter the glass ceiling.  We have to punish the wrong-doers and we have to give strength to the disenfranchised, the powerless, and the silenced.

We have come so far, and yet we still have so far to go.

The stories and celebrations were about women, but bettering the lives of women all over the world will also improve the quality of life for all humans and for the earth itself.   Many spoke about how the work they did was always in conjunction with others – and that they stood on the shoulders of the women and men who came before them.  The stories of struggle and milestones rarely are the work of just one; it is imperative that we come together to become stronger and more powerful forces of good.  But that means each of us need courage. 

Merriam-Webster defines courage as the “mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty” and the challenges to finding one’s courage can seem insurmountable.  In fact, many of the women talked about how hard it was to do what they’ve done and continue to do.  But each found a way to do it, and so can we.  Chances are, we won’t have to do it alone because others will join us.  It begins with that first step.

In short, we must all have the courage to stand up for what we believe in.  Maybe that courage will begin for you in the classroom, in the halls between classes, or in an event you attend.  Next time a question is asked, an issue is posed, an opportunity presents itself – speak up.  Take that chance and make that choice.

If we form an army driven by the courage of conviction, we will be unstoppable.

@sarahtimmerman.  “I went to the national women’s hall of fame induction ceremony today and it was extreamly emotional and a truly inspiring day.”  Twitter, 14 Sept 2019, 11:44, twitter.com/sarahtimmerman/status/1173080006022574081.