Still Showing Up
With gratitude to those that give me the strength
There was a moment recently, quiet but heavy, when I asked myself, Is it worth it?
The energy it takes to stand steady in a room buzzing with distraction. The ache of watching decisions made far above me (by people who’ve never stepped into these classrooms) slowly erode what could be. The wear of it all.
And yet... I keep showing up.
Some days, my lessons soar. Other days, I’m just trying to keep the wings from falling off mid-flight. But even on the hard days, something keeps me tethered to the work. It’s not heroism. It’s not blind optimism. It’s remembering that I’m not walking alone.
There are others, maybe even you, who have chosen the narrow path. The meaningful one. The one lined not with applause or profit, but with purpose. You remind me that choosing the harder way isn’t foolish. It’s brave. It’s beautiful.
To you, I offer gratitude. To the ones who remind me through their example that endurance can be sacred, that joy can be an act of resistance, and that showing up fully, imperfectly, honestly is the work.


Showing up is powerful, and sometimes all that's needed.
Though it wears us down,
may we keep on showing up.
Yes, Ray, it’s worth it.
...
Purpose-filled effort,
Holy hearty stubborn joy.
Brave and beautiful.