Courage to Cross

Sometimes courage doesn’t arrive with a grand plan or a safety net. Sometimes it shows up quietly—at a border crossing, with a suitcase, a stack of paperwork, and a deep inner knowing that says, I’m doing this.

In 2004, I crossed the Peace Arch border in Blaine, Washington, USA, into Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.

The border guard asked the purpose of my trip, and I confidently replied, “I’m moving here.” He gave me a look that clearly said, “It’s not that easy,” until I handed over my Provincial Nominee Program paperwork. (PNP is a fast-track program for skilled workers—and at the time, I was doing software consulting, which qualified as a specialty skill. Lucky me!) He reviewed the documents, filled out a stack of forms, and sent me inside.

Once inside the Canadian border offices, another officer asked for my address—and that’s when it hit me: I didn’t have one. I was technically homeless, with nothing more than a hotel booking while I searched for an apartment.

What an adventure life has been.

As soon as I became eligible for citizenship, I applied—because if I’m paying taxes, I want the right to vote. I found it fascinating to learn how the Canadian government works and to compare it with what I grew up knowing in the United States.

All in all, I am proud to be American and Canadian. I feel incredibly lucky to call Canada my home today. It is a beautiful, kind, and welcoming country.

This journey taught me what it truly means to learn a new culture. You don’t fully realize the differences between two countries until you’ve lived in both. And by the way—both have their strengths and their shortcomings. In my opinion, each could learn a lot from the other.

This is the heart of Call Me Courage.

Courage isn’t always about dramatic leaps or life-altering moves. It’s about trusting yourself when the path isn’t fully visible. It’s about standing at your own personal “border crossing” and choosing to move forward anyway—without all the answers, but with faith in your inner strength.

I don’t encourage you to move countries in order to find your courage—but I do encourage you to reflect. Think about the moments in your life when you had to dig deep, step into the unknown, and call upon the strength that already lived inside you.

Because your strength truly does lie within. Sometimes, all it needs is the courage to take the first step.

Thanks for be part of the Call Me Courage Community - remember, your strength lies within!

Much Love,

Kena🌻