I’ve had many angels in my life–people who appear for no known reason and have a huge, positive impact in some specific way. This one was a real surprise.
In 2006 we bought a sailboat. Though Don is a seasoned sailor, we thought it was a good idea to take a few lessons. My family had a boat when I was a kid, but I admit that I really didn’t know how to sail and was not confident handling the boat.
My unlikely angel was Dave Wilbar, our sailing instructor. After an afternoon full of tacking and other maneuvers, we went back to the dock to debrief and end the lesson. He praised Don for his confidence, knowledge and ability with the boat and then turned to me. “Maggie, you are…(long pause) …unafraid.”
I may have lacked confidence and skill, but according to Dave, I had guts.
Good enough for me!
That word, UNAFRAID, has stayed with me ever since. Dave Wilbar had no idea how he had empowered me for all kinds of future challenges.
It may sound corny, but now when my confidence is running for the door, I literally say to myself, “Remember Maggie? You are unafraid.”
It’s a huge. Those three words make all the difference. What has made the difference for you? What word describes your courage to charge forward? When you are feeling doubt, what sentence bolsters your confidence and helps you grab the reins?
Be your own angle and fill in the blank, You are ____________________.
Let’s see your words in the comments!
