People tell me I'm courageous for speaking up about the injustices that impact people on the downside of power.
That it's courageous for a White guy to amplify the voices of people of color.
And risk my social capital with other White people.
That it's courageous for a cis, straight guy to amplify the voices of members of the LGBTQ community.
And risk my privileged gender normative status.
That it's courageous to speak up on behalf of women who are marginalized.
And alienate my bros.
I suppose there's some merit to the praise. I humbly receive it, and it is part of what motivates me to keep speaking up.
And, it doesn't really feel that courageous anymore.
It just feels like – what I do.
When I didn't have confidence in my beliefs and values and principles. When I hadn't developed my cultural competence. When I was just a wee bud on the flower of self-actualization.
That’s when it felt more courageous. When it felt more like a risk.
It took more courage then because I didn't realize that I didn't care about the things that I might lose.
So, as you travel on your own journey: Be courageous. Share your power. Risk your social capital. Risk your privilege.
Until it's no longer courageous. Until it's no longer a risk.
Because you don't care about what you might lose.