The Courage to Show Up

At my gym, there is a disabled woman who arrives at the same time I do. With the help of her assistant, she trains diligently—unfazed by the physical limitations life has given her. What strikes me is the care she takes in presenting herself: lipstick, earrings, and colorful trainers. She shows up not just to exercise her body, but to fully inhabit her life. Each time I greet her, she offers a radiant smile, a beam of presence that reminds me to be gracious for the life I have.

As ordinary as our lives may appear, they all require some level of courage, some level of commitment, and some level of consistency. My disabled friend embodies these qualities in abundance. Yet, we often lack the vocabulary, the cultural reverence, or the frameworks to recognize and celebrate such devotion to an 'ordinary' life. Her courage isn’t loud or theatrical—it’s steady, intentional, and profoundly human.

In a world that idolizes the exceptional, we often overlook the quiet, steady presence of those who show up every day against great odds. These individuals—the caregivers, the workers, the community builders—are the foundation upon which every civilization rests. Their contributions may not make headlines, but they sustain our societies in profound ways.

Recognizing their courage requires a cultural shift. We must learn to value presence as much as performance, commitment as much as charisma. We must reframe our narratives of heroism to include not only those who disrupt and innovate, but also those who endure and uphold. Elevating the ordinary is an act of justice and a deep exercise in humility.

Changing this requires us to tell different stories, design inclusive systems of recognition, and build cultures that reward consistency, care, and character. When we see showing up as a courageous act, especially in the face of adversity, we expand our moral imagination and ground our ideals in the lived reality of millions.