When my "important" work has been interrupted, and I feel impatient, I think back on Archbishop's story.

It keeps me from yanking and pulling on my protesting granddaughter when I put her sweater on her. I can pause while I do this necessary work and look at sheer beauty of polished skin on her arm, and freckles scattered on that precious and protesting nose. I can do my work with a loving hand.

If I'm putting on sweater to protect her from cold, because I love her, I can let her know this in way that I do it.

I want to acknowledge each of you for work that you do. May it bless and bring dignity to you.

For all times you dotted an "i", wiped a runny nose, sent a thank you card, listened to a trouble co-worker, took out garbage on a rainy morning, picked your husband's underwear up off floor for 100th time, crawled around on your hands and knees in dark looking for a lost "wubbie," calmed an angry client before they went into your boss' office, asked your friend, tenderly, if she'd considered that her son might be doing drugs, phone call you took after you couldn't take one more, time you really looked at someone's photo of their grandchild, fixed a flat for a woman you'll never see again, listened to an Ancient Aviator's WWII story, cleaned toilet, changed a dirty diaper, worked a piece of plastic out of printer, unscrewed a mayonnaise jar for your grandmother, smiled when there was no reason to smile and no one else was smiling ... and all other works of your life known only to you.

On this Labor Day acknowledge yourself for all those unnoticed labors of love you have done throughout your life.

And claim dignity of your work. Pause for a moment and appreciate to yourself love you have put into hardest, smallest, most tedious, demanding, most un-noticed and unacknowledged parts of your work, which is your life.

And finally, acknowledge yourself for all times you went for help and found your personal power by being helper and making your contribution to circle of life – times you coached your coach, shrank your therapist, placed your placement counselor, cured your doctor, healed healer, organized your boss, supported your support staff, led your leader, followed your followers, held your accountant accountable, taught your teacher, ministered to your minister, mothered your mother, fathered your father, and allowed yourself to be child to your children.

Happy Labor Day!

High Value It's a whole lot easier to be courageous when you truly want something. Jane loves her local museum and always wanted to become a docent. Though shy in groups, she was determined to volunteer, and enjoyed first meeting without dread or social anxiety.

Low Risk One thing that helped Jane was to figure out worst possible outcome and determine its likelihood. They probably weren't going to laugh and point, and if she tripped when she walked in she could get up and say "Tah Dah!"

You're in Charge Your hand controls reins of how much discomfort you can handle. You get to choose whether to go or stay. When Tom Smith was training Seabiscuit he didn't try to force horse to do what he refused. Smith let Seabiscuit discover that he had choice. You don't need to be defensive or resistant when you're one in charge.

Camaraderie There's safety in numbers. Things always seem less frightening when you do it with a friend. Maybe it's just misery loves company. Whatever motivation, friends offer support, and help bring out your biggest self. I'm often my boldest and most outrageous with my friend Gina. She's got me doing stuff on stage that I never imagined possible, but I feel safe in her company.

Higher Power No courage How-To list would be complete without trust in God. I'm a novice in spiritual matters and only just learning how faith operates in my life. Suffice it to say that being part of something infinite and all-powerful can definitely give you a leg up.

So maybe courage is simply portable safety-- finding it within yourself rather than seeking it from world; generating it as needed and always having right amount-- no more, no less. That's certainly a productive use of resources.

Liz Sumner, Life Coach M.A. CPC can help you find your courage and move beyond the fears that limit you. For a complimentary 30-minute coaching call email easumner@monad.net, call 603-876-3956 or visit www.WonderfulCoach.com