Injuries and illness can be brutal. When I was in ED recovery there were moments where I was so unwell I couldn’t write. It was immensely challenging. I hope you’re able to heal and find your way back to dance 💛
This rings so true. I spent most of my life working myself to death just to stay alive. Insecurity followed me like a male dog follows a female in heat. I've been writing my whole life but only began submitting my work for publication last year, when I was 56. Now, at 57, I've had two dozen pieces published. I think, as we grow older, the taste of insecurity grows stale and we crave the flavor of living our lives without fear.
That is incredible! Congratulations on having so much of your work published in the last year. I agree that fear becomes far less daunting with age. May we continue to lean into courage in 2025!
Yes, I’ve thought about this a lot as I approach 40. What do I want to put more of my energy towards and where can I spend less of my energy. It’s a finite resource.
Thank you so much for pre-ordering my book! That’s wonderful that you’re three pages into something you’ve put off. It took me a decade to write about my father. I hope now that you’ve started you find the momentum you need to keep going 💛
I write about Quiet Courage. The small silent invisible decisions and actions that each of us, women and especially make every day.
We have unique tolerance levels to the different types of risks and fears we encounter in a life - it’s means courage and bravery is as unique to each of us as our fingerprints. The truest courage we will ever know is our own.
We might all have the same ability to make difficult decisions, face fears, but in a world of injustice, privilege, violence and inequity we can’t ignore the fact that we don’t all get the same choices.
The best decisions we can make, the hard ones, are the ones we make in service to the values we each hold dearest and the life we want to create for the person we want to be.
Once we can recognise that fear is a frenemy, trying to keep us both safe but sometimes overly protective, we can find immense pride in our capacity to making courageous decisions and taking brave action.
The outcomes of our decisions become more about the thing we do get to control, who we are, than decisions being about the outcomes they lead to, which often we can’t control?
Women do this more than they recognise often because society is scared of courageous women who fear less.
I’ve spent 10 years trying to figure out how to say what I think about courage, and women, in a succinct and valuable way.
To help us better know the virtue I think is more essential the future of humanity and the planet than any other.
Hopefully after another decade writing here on substack I might eventually get there - but all this is to say, you have more courage than you will ever need or know.
And when you need it most, it will rise to meet you.
Oh I love this term: quiet courage. It's not something I think of often, our society typically rewards and values courage out in the open, but to be quietly courageous is a muscle I'm working to strengthen. I'm hoping over the next decade of writing here on Substack I'll continue to hone my voice and build that quiet strength.
Exactly. We’ve been acculturated to think of courage as big visible physical bravado.
Yet when we think it’s about decisions and actions in the face of risks fears threats or uncertainty, in pursuit of something noble …… we realise how much quiet courage we have been labouring.
I never thought of myself as a woman of courage. Then when I read about the suffragettes and wanted to understand theirs I in turn understood my own.
Life has become infinitely more meaningful, rewarding and creative since I’ve modelled and followed courage.
This reminds me of a moment in the movie we bought a zoo... Matt Damon says sometimes you only need 10 seconds of insane courage for your life to change... I think about that often!
I love that quote, it really only takes a decision to act. I find if I spend too much time in my head agonizing over something, I'm less likely to do anything about it.
I know this Alena. I’m like a magpie when it comes to courage.
I’ve come to think over the years as bravery as an action and courage as a decision.
In the film, I seem to remember it was telling his wife he loved her?
The action of a process of reflection, vulnerability and possibility of rejection (courage) led to the brave visible action of saying I love you?
Sometimes we do decide things that don’t result in an action but are courageous none the less. So I decide to define the difference thus.
You’ve reminded me, I once spoke to a famous boxer, not officially for my research so I’d never quote them, but I asked him the bravest thing he’d ever done, and he said telling his wife he loved her.
Think we all know the raw risk of saying those words? And sometimes we are right to recognise the risk too?
Super inspiring post!! You’re a brilliant writer. No need to be shy. And about the working a “real” job to pay the bills —you and me both (and most people I know 😂).
Yes, I know very few writers who don't work full-time jobs in addition to writing, but those who spend time putting energy into doing something they love, even if it feels scary, seem so much happier than those who are paralyzed by fear. I know that as terrifying as it can be at times to put myself out there, I feel so much freer.
Danielle, I found you recently on Threads and have been so inspired by your work. I pre-ordered your book and plan to share it with my daughter who is in her first year of university. So many beautiful messages for humans of all kinds.
At 54, and single for a few years now, I’ve also discarded lifelong excuses for procrastinating and picked up a paintbrush. I’d always wanted to learn to paint but always told myself I was too busy with career, kids or life. But now, it’s my biggest passion and an important form of meditation. I take my paints along on many work trips and paint outside to explore and experience places. My first entry into a major exhibition was accepted this last fall and that piece was purchased by a collector on the opening night. It will remain only a hobby for me as my job is demanding enough and I don’t need two jobs. But I’m so glad after all these years that I stopped with the excuses and just made it happen.
Thank you for your daily inspiration and thoughtful questions. 🙏🏻
Jeff, this message brought me so much joy! I love that you pre-ordered my book to share with your daughter.
How wonderful to have started painting and to have your work exhibited and purchased by a collector! I truly believe the arts being so much richness to our lives and force us to re-examine the world through a different lens.
What an uplifting piece! I love how you bring your unique energy to your writing. It's a quirky girl power punch while also full of a struggling-to-break-free wholehearted compassion.
Brilliant. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading 💛
Guess I was waiting to have my ass kicked. I’ve been working/thinking about an essay or poem from the apples perspective. Thanks for the boot
Sometimes it takes just a little nudge :)
So much to identify with, thank you. I am not a writer. I am a dancer who had to stop due to injury. My soul still craves that feeling...
Injuries and illness can be brutal. When I was in ED recovery there were moments where I was so unwell I couldn’t write. It was immensely challenging. I hope you’re able to heal and find your way back to dance 💛
Fear is definitely an albatross - this old gal is very inspired by your piece and poem. Thank you
Thank you 💛
This rings so true. I spent most of my life working myself to death just to stay alive. Insecurity followed me like a male dog follows a female in heat. I've been writing my whole life but only began submitting my work for publication last year, when I was 56. Now, at 57, I've had two dozen pieces published. I think, as we grow older, the taste of insecurity grows stale and we crave the flavor of living our lives without fear.
That is incredible! Congratulations on having so much of your work published in the last year. I agree that fear becomes far less daunting with age. May we continue to lean into courage in 2025!
You've got to live like you're dying, because we are, all of us. Just some of us are going over the speed limit.
Yes, I’ve thought about this a lot as I approach 40. What do I want to put more of my energy towards and where can I spend less of my energy. It’s a finite resource.
Hi Danielle, Thanks for this. I just found you on the InterWeb and have ordered your book.
I want to report that I am on page 3 of something I've been putting off for years.. .
Please keep sending out - you help enormously.
Best of Health and Joy to you and yours this New Year.
Thank you so much for pre-ordering my book! That’s wonderful that you’re three pages into something you’ve put off. It took me a decade to write about my father. I hope now that you’ve started you find the momentum you need to keep going 💛
What a fabulous piece.
I write about Quiet Courage. The small silent invisible decisions and actions that each of us, women and especially make every day.
We have unique tolerance levels to the different types of risks and fears we encounter in a life - it’s means courage and bravery is as unique to each of us as our fingerprints. The truest courage we will ever know is our own.
We might all have the same ability to make difficult decisions, face fears, but in a world of injustice, privilege, violence and inequity we can’t ignore the fact that we don’t all get the same choices.
The best decisions we can make, the hard ones, are the ones we make in service to the values we each hold dearest and the life we want to create for the person we want to be.
Once we can recognise that fear is a frenemy, trying to keep us both safe but sometimes overly protective, we can find immense pride in our capacity to making courageous decisions and taking brave action.
The outcomes of our decisions become more about the thing we do get to control, who we are, than decisions being about the outcomes they lead to, which often we can’t control?
Women do this more than they recognise often because society is scared of courageous women who fear less.
I’ve spent 10 years trying to figure out how to say what I think about courage, and women, in a succinct and valuable way.
To help us better know the virtue I think is more essential the future of humanity and the planet than any other.
Hopefully after another decade writing here on substack I might eventually get there - but all this is to say, you have more courage than you will ever need or know.
And when you need it most, it will rise to meet you.
Oh I love this term: quiet courage. It's not something I think of often, our society typically rewards and values courage out in the open, but to be quietly courageous is a muscle I'm working to strengthen. I'm hoping over the next decade of writing here on Substack I'll continue to hone my voice and build that quiet strength.
Exactly. We’ve been acculturated to think of courage as big visible physical bravado.
Yet when we think it’s about decisions and actions in the face of risks fears threats or uncertainty, in pursuit of something noble …… we realise how much quiet courage we have been labouring.
I never thought of myself as a woman of courage. Then when I read about the suffragettes and wanted to understand theirs I in turn understood my own.
Life has become infinitely more meaningful, rewarding and creative since I’ve modelled and followed courage.
This reminds me of a moment in the movie we bought a zoo... Matt Damon says sometimes you only need 10 seconds of insane courage for your life to change... I think about that often!
I love that quote, it really only takes a decision to act. I find if I spend too much time in my head agonizing over something, I'm less likely to do anything about it.
I know this Alena. I’m like a magpie when it comes to courage.
I’ve come to think over the years as bravery as an action and courage as a decision.
In the film, I seem to remember it was telling his wife he loved her?
The action of a process of reflection, vulnerability and possibility of rejection (courage) led to the brave visible action of saying I love you?
Sometimes we do decide things that don’t result in an action but are courageous none the less. So I decide to define the difference thus.
You’ve reminded me, I once spoke to a famous boxer, not officially for my research so I’d never quote them, but I asked him the bravest thing he’d ever done, and he said telling his wife he loved her.
Think we all know the raw risk of saying those words? And sometimes we are right to recognise the risk too?
This was so inspired. And you are amazing. Keep moving. Fear or not. It's working.
Thank you! Even when I'm afraid, I find a way forward :)
Thank you!
Super inspiring post!! You’re a brilliant writer. No need to be shy. And about the working a “real” job to pay the bills —you and me both (and most people I know 😂).
Yes, I know very few writers who don't work full-time jobs in addition to writing, but those who spend time putting energy into doing something they love, even if it feels scary, seem so much happier than those who are paralyzed by fear. I know that as terrifying as it can be at times to put myself out there, I feel so much freer.
Beautiful, Danielle. I am so glad you are here and writing.
Thank you Angela, me too :)
Danielle, I found you recently on Threads and have been so inspired by your work. I pre-ordered your book and plan to share it with my daughter who is in her first year of university. So many beautiful messages for humans of all kinds.
At 54, and single for a few years now, I’ve also discarded lifelong excuses for procrastinating and picked up a paintbrush. I’d always wanted to learn to paint but always told myself I was too busy with career, kids or life. But now, it’s my biggest passion and an important form of meditation. I take my paints along on many work trips and paint outside to explore and experience places. My first entry into a major exhibition was accepted this last fall and that piece was purchased by a collector on the opening night. It will remain only a hobby for me as my job is demanding enough and I don’t need two jobs. But I’m so glad after all these years that I stopped with the excuses and just made it happen.
Thank you for your daily inspiration and thoughtful questions. 🙏🏻
Jeff, this message brought me so much joy! I love that you pre-ordered my book to share with your daughter.
How wonderful to have started painting and to have your work exhibited and purchased by a collector! I truly believe the arts being so much richness to our lives and force us to re-examine the world through a different lens.
You’re so right. Thank you again for what you do. Keep it coming! 🙏🏻
Love this, Danielle. I've always been a scaredy cat too, but I'm 43 now, so: 'If not now, when?' 💗
Precisely, if not now, then when? And I think so many of us experience fear regularly, it’s learn lung not to let it paralyze us.
Love this!
Thank you!
"I gave up resolutions years ago, but each year, I ask myself where I can be more courageous." This is brilliant. Thank you.
Thank you ☺️
What an uplifting piece! I love how you bring your unique energy to your writing. It's a quirky girl power punch while also full of a struggling-to-break-free wholehearted compassion.
Thank you Rebecca!