Courage

For many people, Courage looks like jumping into the unknown. Ellen's version is different. She rarely makes impulsive decisions. Instead, she researches, reflects, asks questions, and weighs the possibilities. Fear is often part of the process, but she refuses to let it make the final decision.

That approach became especially meaningful while Ellen was navigating a health diagnosis and receiving medical care. During an appointment, she discovered that she and her physician shared a love of cycling, and he invited her to join his Pan-Mass Challenge team — a two-day fundraising bike ride that raises millions of dollars each year for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The invitation was exciting, but also intimidating. Ellen wondered whether she belonged among such accomplished cyclists and whether she could complete the ride. After thinking it through and learning more about the team, she decided to say yes.

She arrived at her first training ride nervous and unsure of what to expect. Before long, another rider asked what had brought her to the team. When Ellen mentioned her diagnosis, the man replied that he had one too. In that simple exchange, Ellen realized she wasn't an outsider at all. She had found a community of people who understood something about what she was experiencing. What began as a frightening leap became a source of friendship, purpose, and belonging. Completing the ride became one of the most rewarding experiences of her year.

Looking back, Ellen says many of the decisions that once felt the scariest have become the most rewarding experiences of her life. Moving across the country while pregnant, building a new community from scratch, and embracing unfamiliar challenges all stretched her beyond what felt comfortable. Each experience reinforced her willingness to trust herself the next time fear appeared.

Over the years, Ellen has also discovered another side of Courage. Sometimes it means saying yes to something uncertain. Other times, it means saying no. As life changes, she has had to step away from activities she enjoys in response to what she needs at this stage of her life. Those decisions haven't always been easy, but she is learning that courage can also mean recognizing when it is time to make room for something different.

Her advice is practical: don't ignore your fear, but don't let it decide for you. Do your research, and think it through. Make sure the decision reflects your values. Then trust yourself enough to move forward.

For Ellen, the greatest rewards in life have rarely waited inside her comfort zone. They've been waiting just beyond the moment when fear no longer gets to decide.

"Don't let fear decide."

- Ellen