Sculptural pieces, in my garden, on sheds and outside my studio. I like the ways that snow and wind add surprising and unexpected elements to objects that I've combined.

Bravery is a word that I don't hear discussed frequently. Neither is fortitude, a word that seems to have fallen out of use, old fashioned and forgotten. Maybe because bravery is often thought foremost in terms of physical courage and in acts of physically amazing feats. Maybe, because in a culture where coolness rules, it is uncool to admit to vulnerability or inadequacy or the need to be brave.

  For those of us fortunate not to be in life- threatening physical danger daily, emotional, mental and spiritual bravery are required. Emotional courage begins within the heart, mental courage begins within the mind and spiritual courage, within the soul. To be willing to confront fear, uncertainty, misunderstanding, criticism, intimidation and disappointment requires internal, unseen brave steps and includes fortitude. To be braver in external situations is to intentionally cultivate courage inwardly. This is a way of putting tools into your box, ready for use and not having to scramble around to find them, when needed.

Some skills for bravery:

Emotional bravery:

*Be kind, compassionate and forgiving, especially for those that you hold in judgment or that judge you.
*Dare to feel, to be vulnerable, to acknowledge fear, to love, to cry, to be angry and to laugh, the deep belly kind. Allow anger to burn cleanly and be released. Anger can come from frustration from not being brave enough to speak up, to move through fear, to make new choices or to change the status quo.

Mental bravery:

*Review beliefs and constructs that may no longer be true for you. Revisit what you think, what you believe and what you think you know.
*Read about or listen to someone's views that oppose yours.
*Welcome new ideas, especially those that are not immediately comfortable for you.
*Dream and imagine what could be? Ask yourself what you would like to do that you have not yet done, that circumstances or your reluctance have not allowed. Determine which action, large or small, will begin the process, then do it!

Spiritual bravery:

*Meditate: listen to inner knowing.
*Trust your path, your learning and your missteps. Trust that you are guided and that circumstances that are difficult are often for soul growth, whether or not they make sense logically or are explainable in 3rd dimensional terms.

 Onward!