Path of Positivity New Challenge - Have Courage

Courage is not one of the qualities I associate with myself! I was chronically shy for much of my life and I mean chronically shy. Speaking to people was so out of my comfort zone it was the other side of the universe. Notice the use of the past tense. I am happy to say that I am no longer chronically shy, after years of working at it, I am now just shy with new people or in new situations.

Looking back now I don't think people realise how debilitating shyness can be. Imagine not being able to even ask a bus driver to stop at your stop so travelling on the next stop to get off and then walking back up the road - yep been there many times when at school. It's not that you don't want to speak it is just mentally impossible.

So can you imagine the agonising that went into pressing the send button on my first blog post or sharing the first colouring online. It has not been an easy journey but honestly I am glad I persevered. In some ways it is an in between stage, this sharing on line is not as threatening as speaking face to face with someone you do not know. Thankfully the comments have been positive and the confidence boosted and with that comes the courage. So now I will speak to strangers, I make the effort, and each successful encounter builds up the courage.

So next time you meet someone who is on the quiet side, before you put them down as stand-offish just remember that they may just be churning inside trying to overcome their own shyness.

I just love the quote that came with the image I have used for my card as it says it all and certainly fits my own circumstances.

Materials used:

Beccy's Place - Safari Digital Stamp Set (lion and quote) 

Sheen Douglas A4 embossing folder - Jungle leaves

Adirondack ink pad - meadow

X-Press It card

7" x 5" card blank

white card

Copic pens:

mane - W9, E37, E08, YR27, YR24, YR12, YR21, YR23

body fur - E31, E33, E35, E39, W9

eye - YR16, YR07, YR68

mouth - E00, R20, R21 

I used the embossing folder with white card and then brushed meadow ink over it to highlight the leaves.

So have you got the courage to have a go at our challenge this month? The theme of Courage is optional so you can do anything. If entering challenges is old hat to you then well done and you have no excuse not to have a go! If you lack confidence but really would like to try it then I would urge you to summon up every ounce of courage you can find and give it a go. The whole ethos of this particular challenge is that it is Positive so you will be among friends who are just waiting to encourage you. If you do decide to enter and it is the first time you have tried then please put a comment on the challenge blog and I will do my best to come and pay you a visit with some encouragement from someone who knows how hard that road can be.

All the details of the challenge and the link can be found on the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  We have two sponsors this month, Beccy's Place and Scribbles Designs both offering prizes

Thank you for sticking with me on a very personal post. Hope to see you in the challenge. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:

A Bit More Time To Craft #101 - Anything Goes 

613 Avenue Create #226 - Anything Goes 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #115 - Anything Goes 

PIP Challenge #1940 - Anything Goes 

Creative Moments #178 - Anything Goes 

Show Us Your Pussycats #47 - Anything With A Cat Goes (In my book lions are just big cats!)

Beccy's Challenges October - Anything With Beccy's Images