...you're strong enough to finish!
A powerful way to start the May blog ahead of a mometous occasion for the Queen celebrating her Platinum Jubilee during the first few days of June!
May can often be an uncertain time of year, with Summer not yet blooming, and Spring not yet letting go...undoubtedly, the weather has been testing us recently, and I thought that the quality of courage would be apt for the final few days of the month...and hopefully it will give us all a boost and a reminder that we are strong!
“Courage is fear holding on a minute longer”
Words spoken by a famed World War 2 tank commander named General George Patton, suggesting that we should not give into our fears. If we take the time to stand strong despite any misgivings or concerns, we will find that courage to continue. Given the dreadful conditions which many individuals found themselves in, during WW1 and WW2, this was a striking statement to utter. Many people thought that they would probably see their loved ones again, yet the spirited attitudes of their loved ones in war still allowed them to speak such rousing and valiant words, as those above.
When we think of courage, we naturally think about overcoming our fears – whether that be of heights or anything else – and how elated we would feel.
I recently watched the ‘Freeze the Fear’ programme which followed eight celebrities moving into the Italian mountains in sub-zero conditions. During the series, the celebrities faced a series of daunting, cold challenges designed to push their minds and bodies to the limit. Along the way, the celebrities were guided by the record-breaking athlete, Wim Hof, AKA 'The Ice Man', who believes that embracing the cold has the ability to change all of their lives for the better. What was astonishing to observe was that simple tasks which we can incorporate into our daily lives, can be life-changing and can help everyone to overcome their fears. It was interesting to observe also that courage isn’t always about facing powerful fears and obstacles; sometimes fear is about taking a step back and saying no. I am not necessarily suggesting that we all need to take daily cold showers or ice baths, but it truly demonstrates the power of the mind and how it can overcome the fears and weaknesses of the body.
We may think about courage being a quality which allows us to fight bears or other extreme scenarios, but courage can be a very heartfelt and quiet emotion. The word courage reflects this idea, as its etymology stretches back to Vulgar Latin *corāticum from Latin cor. The Latin word cor can mean heart in an anatomical sense, but can also figuratively mean soul or mind. This demonstrates how courage can be a quality which is very personal and intimate, instead of always being an emphatic emotion being thrown around in other’s faces. Some of the most courageous situations recognised by Wim Hof during the TV programme was when the celebrities faced internal fears and childhood memories, allowing their emotions to be released with simple breathing techniques...all of the celebrities were united by the connections they found with each, as they shared some of their most personal stories. They all felt the courage to speak openly, once they had recognised their physical fears outside in the extreme cold conditions.
I urge you to consider your own lives for a moment now and how you may be able to work on your courage…
American author and screenwriter Christopher Paolini said: “Without fear there cannot be courage”
And the quote in the picture above by Charlie Mackesy also reflects how the presence of courage and fear are interwoven. This week is extraordinary for Her Majesty the Queen as she will be celebrating her Platinum Jubilee - on 6th February earlier this year, she became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and the Commonwealth. Undoubtedly, she will have required great courage throughout her 70 years reign, especially as she has been served by 14 Prime Ministers, enduring the various political and social changes along the way. She must have experienced the emotion of fear many times, but has always allowed the public to see her strength and determination, no matter what.
There are many wonderful facts about the Queen, which display her courage and fortitude, such as carrying out more than 21,000 engagements over the course of her reign, visiting over 100 countries in her role as Monarch and even sending over 300,000 congratulatory cards to people celebrating their 100th birthdays...but one of the most poignant acts which she did was in her early years with her first radio broadcast.
She made her first radio broadcast in 1940 when, aged 14, she recorded a message of support for young people affected by the war in Europe, particularly those being evacuated from their homes, on the BBC’s Children's Hour. She said: "I can truthfully say to you all that we children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage. We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen, and we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war". These words would have been extremely significant to everyone who was listening with hope and wonder for their loved ones, and demonstrates the power of the quality of courage. It takes a certain type of individual to embody qualities such as courage, and it seems to me that her enduring and resolute attitude has led her to do just that.
Whether or not you connect with the Queen and see her as a role model, her fearlessness and steadiness during her 70 years reign, is something to admire...
As the year flies by, I am delighted to have been chosen to be a Rooster Ambassador for 2022, representing the brand and its ethos to “Inspire, educate and facilitate access to the freedom of being on the water #InYourElement …please feel free to watch my first Rooster Ambassador video by clicking on the image above - this was a lot of fun to create and I hope you enjoy it! I hope you enjoy watching the regular content which can be viewed by my personal instagram account, and I would welcome any suggestions for new creations...
Watch this space as there will be more exciting updates in relation to Rooster coming soon...
Thank you for all your continued support for the brand instagram account, and I hope you are able to enjoy some Jubilee-themed goodies during this week as we move quickly towards June, and hopefully towards some sunnier days...the photos above show a range of different situations where I have been able to enjoy some lovely food and drinks in beautiful, quiet surroundings. I have noticed how important it is for us all to recognise the significance of our meal times, and to pay attention to every bite. Not only is the food thoroughly enjoyed, but it is also digested well and the overall experience is a lot more satisfying!
Wednesday Wind down With Sitara continues every week 8-10pm on Lymm Radio with a fantastic variety of weekly themes, songs and quotes! Please do message in with your song requests and special mentions as it is a pleasure to include your favourites! On the show this week, there will be a variety of songs from the 7 decades of the Queen's reign, and I hope you enjoy reminiscing throughout the two hours before the Jubilee celebrations begin on Thursday!
Tune into the radio show via your smart speaker or via this link...a positive way to start the day! #localradio
I conclude this month's blog with some inspiring words by Claire Booth Luce, which help to create an vivid image in our minds:
“Courage is the ladder on which all other virtues mount”
I hope you enjoy the final days of May ahead of the month of June and are able to embrace the courage and all of the other opportunities which you find along the way...just as the daffodils in the picture above braved the windy conditions on top of a hill and stay are able to thrive!
Love,
Sitara xxx
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