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A Village of One- Rise!

Some days, I feel like a Village of One.

There are many times in our life when we will have to choose between doing the safe and easy thing- or the harder, better thing.
That sounds simple enough in theory, but as Martin Luther King Jr. said:

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

Fear is a crippling thing.
Courage asks you to rise in spite of popularity- of the status quo- of harm- or retaliation.

I had a situation where I had to confront a group of men at my son's school-who were being lewd and disrespectful in front of the children.

While my son and the other children watched. I set a boundary and advised these intruders that it was inappropriate and that they were encroaching on private property. While I was being verbally assaulted by five men, others, who I know, stood by and watched. They did nothing in the moment. These bystanders were men also- with the authority to enforce the boundary I was trying to set.

At first I was angry but later I reflected on my anger. I see that just because of gender- or age or status- fear prevails and it is what stops people from taking a stand. It stops them in that moment of having to choose- which path to take. They chose the path of least resistance. In spite of them I had to choose the path of courage.

"Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I realized then that is why I was angry. I felt betrayed by the fear of others that crippled them to stand with me in that moment of challenge.

I marvel at how "gangs" band together to create destruction, chaos and fear..but seldom do we have "gangs" of do good-ers banding together to take a stand for Peace, Love..

Each loving sensitive person in this world feels like a Village of One; unable to have the strength to overcome these darker forces... alone.

Nice people are afraid of making people angry, we are conditioned to turn the other cheek; afraid to Rise, to become a target......

Setting Peaceful, Loving boundaries and speaking our truth will always annoy people who are not being their highest and best..

But your example will empower others to have the courage to Rise..........

With Love and Compassion and en-courage-ing each other,through our example- we can make a difference.

You are not alone, have the courage to speak up and speak out.
Speak of Love, Hope and Peace, justice and the right to be...
and before you know it you will not be alone anymore....

Story was submitted anonymously