Awakening Courage

Awakening Courage: Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness, is a book of the gifts and talents of local people in Trimble Township, a rural, southeastern Ohio community nestled in the Appalachian foothills. It could very well be any community in America. The author relates the successful achievements of many residents, despite the economic decline and the out migration of many of the area’s younger residents. It seems that no matter the walk of life, from preschoolers and beyond, there is no limit to what many have managed to accomplish. Certainly many of these people possess talents and skills that have facilitated their success but the author believes there is so much more to this story. What defines the community of Trimble Township is the Grit Index - the amount of unglamorous, undramatic perseverance you need to reach your targeted goals. It is a special blend of passion and persistence. Grit is the great game changer on the road to excellence and success. All the great stories of local heroes and achievers, who have persevered through setbacks, crushing defeats, rejection, or distress in one form or another, have grit as their secret weapon to success. Gritty people, as you will see in the chapters ahead, have several things in common - they operate at the edge of their comfort zone, set stretch goals in order to improve, and have a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves which doubles their motivation because now they are seeing how their actions benefit others. The stories presented in this book will inspire you, provide glimpses of special individuals, while helping you recognize the power of grit, resilience, and toughness. They will encourage each of you to have the confidence required to change, pivot, or adjust when needed in times of adversity. The author encourages each of you to inspire others, reflect on your everyday actions, increase your self awareness and leverage your relational capabilities to build positive, impactful relationships. The author takes readers into the athletic arena, the medical profession, a community of civic minded citizens, and relates personal stories of high achievers while sharing the characteristics that make their achievements special. He focuses on the fact that these citizens are the primary assets and activators within their communities. They represent the concept of “producers of the future.” The author pulls together decades of experience and observations as a former Trimble township resident, teacher, coach, and public servant, to share stories from all walks of life and distills it into a set of practical strategies that will inspire, motivate, and hopefully result in you becoming more passionate and persistent in your daily endeavors within your respective community. The author hopes you will feel empowered as you read how some have exercised immense self-control and perseverance in light of daunting odds & circumstances – to create a mindset to never quit and to never settle. You will see personal stories of grit and relentless pursuits of passion. For those who have a platform to influence others and want them to succeed, the lessons will be invaluable. What is a fundamental insight into grit guides the author’s thinking that potential is one thing, what we do with it is quite another story. In the pages ahead you will read about these people who refused to quit or take no for an answer. They see “N. O.” as meaning, “Next Opportunity.” They are prideful people who learned to rise above challenges and adversity and seek prosperity in the process. They possess character, humility, integrity, and passion. They are mentally tough, accountable to a cause bigger than themselves and “walk the talk” daily in their journey toward becoming all that they were meant to be, not what someone else said they should be. They are special people who have come to believe that “Grit Matters.” They somehow were able to display an almost effortless courage in the face of stress, challenge, and adversity. Where most might see despair, they found hope. When some would choose to quit, they found a way to “charge on.” As you read this book, you are encouraged to examine your heart, your mind, and your experience about your place in the community and how you might move from your present situation toward your dream of a desirable future. Practical action always starts with an understanding that every community has more potential resources than any one person knows.