“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” Mary Anne Radmacher

     I never considered myself a particularly courageous person, especially as a child. I felt uncomfortable in large groups and would get so embarrassed about any area I lacked in skill. If someone had tried to tell me how much courage they saw in me, I may have wondered if they were joking. I was usually met with responses more along the lines of, “you are so quiet” or “you don’t need to be shy.”

     A growth mindset was not well-modeled for me, and now I realize that so much of those small acts of courage are made up of vulnerability, of embracing our own stumbling. I think of it much differently than I did as a kid, when I would have described the idealized, strong, bold image of bravery in children’s books and movies. Now, as I spend time with children, I do my best to be very explicit in sharing about the importance of patience with ourselves, especially when trying a new skill. Comparison steals joy from us all sometimes, but it really makes my heart ache when children no longer want to try something new and potentially enjoyable because they are not immediately getting the results that they’d like – the results they see in professional work, decades in the making.

     So, today, and always, I encourage you to own your mistakes, shortcomings, and awkward feelings, all that feels vulnerable to you. Remember that a sense of humor is an important leadership quality. Talk about and even celebrate moments you’ve failed at something, knowing that you’re only challenging yourself if that happens now and then.

One of the most impactful videos I’ve seen on the topic of a growth mindset is the following- RSA ANIMATE: How to Help Every Child Fulfil Their Potential: https://youtu.be/Yl9TVbAal5s

This month’s updates:

Nursery care

We now plan to have the nursery open every Sunday during worship. We are dependent on (background-checked) volunteers while we work on hiring childcare workers. Please spread the word.

Children’s Faith Development
We now plan on having CFD every Sunday, including the first Sundays of the month.

o   October 9^th, 10:45-11:30am(Indigenous Peoples Day service) Children’s Chapel with Danielle and Macey
o   October 16^th, 10:30-11:30am, Full-hour CFD, Halloween décor / crafts with Deb and Macey
o   October 23^rd, 10:45-11:30am, (Question Box service) Children’s Chapel with Macey and facilitator TBD
o   October 30^th, 10:45-11:30am Samhain / Halloween – costumes welcome, Children’s Chapel with Macey and facilitator TBD

Youth Group

o   Wed. October 12^th, 6:30-8pm, Wholehearted Courage, re-acquainting – new bios / “duality constellation of me”, building covenant with Macey and facilitator TBD
o   Sun. October 16^th, 10:45-11:30am Personal Courage, “hard things” bingo or “failure ta-da!” improv with Barb and facilitator TBD
o   Wed. October 19^th, 6:30-8pm Halloween and Courage theme, mask-making with Macey and facilitator TBD

OWL for 7-9 grade

o  We plan to meet with parents on October 30^th and run this program on Sundays after church from November 13^th to February 12^th with Cindy B. and Mae G. Please share with youth at UUFM and elsewhere. Contact CFD Director, Macey Forsyth, if you have questions.