If there is one motto I’d like to leave behind for my family and friends it would be this one.

The courage to grow.

This is my part of the journey. My family and friends have their role to play in my journey, but this is MY piece of the action.

It is up to ME to stretch outside of the boundaries of the familiar in order to expand my consciousness toward Oneness, toward integration and reverence for all.

It is up to ME to choose.

Others can invite me, charm me, seduce me, attract me, tantalize me — but it is my choice that takes me outside of the box I live in.

I have agency.

As such, it is up to ME to engage the new and novel, the different and diverse, and then to integrate that dynamic energy into my whole life.

It is up to ME to think, feel, and act differently based on my new experiences.

When I’m stretching outside of the box in which I live, I am growing myself.

Living this way has introduced me to a hard truth.

Straying marks the path.

Sometimes I make those choices unconsciously, ignorantly, foolishly, but as we all know, shit happens and sometimes that is my shit that is happening.

And in those moments when I do cross the line, when I do stray, it is important to take responsibility for my choices, to apologize if necessary, and then to take one more important step.

Ask for forgiveness.

I’ve heard myself and so many others say, “I’m really sorry” without completing the loop. “Will you please forgive me.”

There is how we build community. Right there.

Which brings me to the second part of my motto.

The right to fail.

If you won’t give me the right to fail, then you are stifling my growth, and with that you are stifling your growth as well.

With courage, however, I will press on. I will grow regardless of how graceful you are. Yet, my failures will give you the opportunity to provide grace.

Gracious communities of people aren’t necessary for personal growth, but they help.

Courageous people who risk failure push their communities to be graceful.

When we fail, we are simultaneously giving ourselves, and others, the opportunity to practice the art of being graceful.

That block of wood is about 3 inches thick and more than 2 feet long. My late and beloved brother hand carved that for me. A precious gift and a precious reminder.

On the reverse side he carved another of my favorite sayings, this one attributed to Socrates.

If we are to grow we must wonder more, and if my community of family and friends will be gracious to me as I wonder… and wander… then we all will be… well, BECOMERS!

The Courage to Grow. The Right to Fail.

AMEN

I’ve been livin’ and learnin’ for many years. Recently I’ve been introduced to Celtic Christian Spirituality and it is proving to be a better map than the old one I was trained to follow. Pretty exciting stuff.

I write from my experience as a Pastoral Counselor, retired Marriage and Family Therapist, family guy and friend.

As one who is in pursuit of organized common sense.

Follow me on Medium.

There is more to know that you have learned.

www.andyatwood.com