Landed

Do you recognize that as the parachute that safely landed 4 American astronauts into the Gulf of Mexico after their stint on (ISS) the International Space Station? I don’t know whose idea it was, but in the markings on the parachute itself is the message: “Dare Mighty Things.” Surely preparing is a mighty thing. So is take off. But I never considered landing a “Mighty Thing.” Did you?

Well actually I never considered landing a mighty thing until the day I landed in Jacksonville Beach and within 12 hours calling paramedics because something was really wrong and in the hospital learning the word A-fib. Then home one night and when it happened again, driving myself to the ER to tell them it was happening again. After another day in the hospital, I was on my way back home; new meds in hand, new tests to be run, new doctors to follow-up. It seems after my 3-2-1 blast-off, I kind of crash landed. Not to be concerned…things are working themselves out. New meds, new practices, another new normal evolving.

While the landing looked catastrophic for a while…it was a safe landing. I was in a community with good health care. I am blessed with good insurance. A neighbor who only knew me by the car in the driveway–but whose name I learned from a newsletter–when I called, went to the house and took care of the dogs while I lingered in the hospital. I had the wherewithall in the middle of the unknown to leave the front door unlocked. And all the while Sam (who they would not have let in the hospital) continued in Sarasota with the packers and movers. He arrived in Jacksonville just a few hours after I was released.

This particular landing was mighty for me. But on reflection, I’ve come to believe a lot of our landings are, such as: that first night at summer camp as a child; the first time our dad takes his hands off the back of the bicycle seat when we’re learning to ride; the first time we call someone our best friend or say yes to a first date. We Dare a Mighty Thing when we move into the dorm, approach an almost full lunch table and sit down, when we decide to marry, to become a parent, to buy house. These are just a few of the landings in all of our lives for which we had to Dare to be Mighty.

What are the ways in which you have chosen to Dare Mighty Things?

We dare a mighty thing when we begin a new friendship. We dare a mighty thing when we negotiate new terms for an old friendship. We dare a mighty thing when we cope with physical, mental and emotional challenges constructively. We dare a might thing when confronted with change or loss. We dare a mighty thing by changing our minds from the way we always thought it would be/should be. We dare a mighty thing when we choose to reveal our weaknesses as well as our strengths. We dare a mighty thing sometime by putting one foot in front of the other and ‘doing the next right thing’.

After the suspenseful part of my most recent medical drama 😉 was over, I was feeling a little fragile. Adrenaline always has served me well in an emergency, but now that the eminent danger had passed the enormity of the landing was hitting me. I was at my first visit here with the new doctor who is taking over the care of my GPA, Dr. Manresh Relan. He had all the records from my history up to and including my recent ER and hospital stays. After the initial doctorly chitchat, he said to me was “you are stronger than you think.” You are stronger than you think. He wasn’t talking about my physical wellbeing, but resilience. It made me take a deep breath.

Where have you landed lately? Green pastures and still waters, or somewhere else? What are the opportunities before you to Dare Mighty Things? Are you taking them, or trying to go a different way? How is your resilience? I’ve thought almost daily about Dr. Relan’s words, especially when my mind is wandering down a less than mighty path. And each time, it makes a palpable difference.

May the encouragement and power that was given to me, be encouragement and power to you today. “You are stronger than you think.” You are stronger than you think. So do not be afraid to dare something mighty. You are stronger than you think.

From my landing pad, to yours, with love…

Kathleen

Kathleen Bronagh Weller — thecelticmonk