I’m a writer, so it’s no surprise that I really like words -their history, their meanings, how their use has evolved, the whole works. They’ve always been my creative medium of choice.
So when I was about to buy a hand-stamped necklace from one of my would-be squad leaders, I gave a good amount of consideration to what I wanted it to say. I thought to myself, “what do I want to strive to be over this next year and beyond?”
I chose “valiant.” (Possessing or showing courage or determination) Something about that word makes me think of the way one might describe a knight or a warrior. (Side note – knights are particularly significant to me. Read more about that here.) It was a word that would remind me of bravery, of honor, and of loyalty. It reflected my desire to stand and fight my battles (fitted with the armor of God, of course) instead of hiding behind a wall and waiting for it to pass by.
When I left training camp and started writing a ridiculous amount of blogs about it, my squadmates called me brave. They told me I had a courageous heart. They said that they admired my willingness to be open, raw, and honest.
The first few times this happened I figured, “There’s nothing brave or courageous about this. It’s just what I do – I don’t think about it too much.”
But who says that courage only counts in moments when it’s out of character, or in the most extreme circumstances? It doesn’t have to be that way – and if everyone took a good look at our everyday courage, we may walk a little taller, knowing that what we do day in and day out matters in the long run.
So perhaps this necklace that says “valiant” is to remind me of what I already am and will continue to be, rather than what I want to become.
