Last week, I went for a 40-mile bike ride in the rain. Add to the scenario that I have poison ivy on my arms, legs, and feet from a recent visit to Bernheim Forest, and it may sound crazy that this felt like a good idea. And, that I had a great time.
Here’s how I think about it. My body and mind have the power to do more than I may ever be able to unleash. What I can do is step (or ride) into situations where they are tested and pushed toward their limits. If I aspire to one day do an adventure race, bike mountains in Colorado, or do an ultra-marathon, any of these could include rain, snow, ice, or other physical – and mental - limitations. Practicing now helps me understand that I’m not only capable, but also prepared to adapt quickly and problem solve with glasses covered in rain drops and my feet itching as I push into the peddles.
The same can be said about courage. Like we need a helmet, lights, water bottles, physical and mental practice to go for a long ride, having self-confidence, setting boundaries, being ready to take risks, and practicing how we respond in situations that are uncomfortable and require vulnerability are all things that support being courageous in our personal and professional lives.
I think about the evolution of how I present in the world, specifically, over the past 10 years as a professional and queer man. Uncovering my more feminine traits as I’ve built trust and confidence, found my footing, and piece by piece, stepped into my truth. The road can feel long, but as I look back, I’m also reminded that it’s about visualizing what’s possible for others.
For the September issue of The Voice of Louisville, I had the honor of spending a half-day with Louisville artist and legend Ed Hamilton. He said, it’s “through the lens of bronze” that people who have not seen themselves depicted as a part of our nation’s history are “able to see something that looks like them. These pieces, my work, are about identity. For so many years, people haven’t felt visible. It’s not about rewriting history, it’s about telling true history.
Ed’s words resonate so deeply with me – visibility, identity. I’ve worn makeup since high school. I started growing my hair out and letting my professional attire shift to being more androgynous a few years ago. In 2018, I published a blog post called “A culture shift – where misgendering isn’t the norm – but the exception.” I talked about the impact of being a man who often gets called Ma’am in most of the places where I go, and has at various times been asked if I know what restroom I’m about to enter.
At the time, it was a very difficult piece to hit Publish on. It was so personal, and about something that has caused a lot of inner turmoil. One friend said, “You gave people answers to questions they didn’t know they had. And an invitation into an important conversation.” It led to me participating in two conference panels in 2019, and building in-part on the piece, we talked about the impact, and benefit, of being able to show up fully at work and in life. And, for next month, I’m helping to design a session around pronouns and identity for a global corporation. It’s a long arc, one that will continue to morph. But like the long ride in the rain, it has been additive in nature. Small doses of courage and evolution of self, adding up to something greater than any one instance.
As we head into September, and look toward the rest of 2020, I encourage you to ask, how you are training to be courageous. What tools and practice can you put in place to support your daring journey into a new venture, a stronger relationship, a more confident and courageous you?
With gratitude,
Josh
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Photo by Andrea Hutchinson for The Voice of Louisville
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About: Josh Miller is a queer changemaker, public speaker, photographer, and outdoor explorer. He is the owner of Josh Miller Ventures and the co-founder + CEO of IDEAS xLab—an organization that uses the art of storytelling and community collaboration to impact public health. Miller’s work has been featured by The New York Times, the Aspen Institute, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. He is a Soros Equality Fellow, received the 2022 Nonprofit Visionary Leader Award from Louisville Business First, and was selected for Business Equality Magazine’s Forty LGBTQ+ Leaders under 40 and Louisville Business First's Forty under 40. Miller is a two-time TEDx speaker and has been described as a "force in our community.” He holds an MBA from Indiana University and an undergraduate degree from Bellarmine University. Previously, he served as an advisor to the Derby Diversity & Business Summit and co-chair for the Louisville Health advisory board’s communications committee.