From Showing Grit to Silent Courage

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on – it is going on when you don’t have strength.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte

When I first came up with the idea for my book, I did a brain dump to get all my ideas out of my head and ensure that I didn’t forget anything. Since I am so detail-minded and organised, I developed a structure for my book. But before I started writing, I decided I needed to have a title.

I love the word grit and its association with the Navy seals. I felt it was appropriate as a representation of my never-give-up attitude and the many hearing loss challenges I’ve overcome through the years.

As an introvert, I am inquisitive and love researching. Strange enough, I never done much research about hearing loss. Thus, writing Showing Grit: An Introvert’s Authentic Journey with Hearing Loss was a journey of learning and self-discovery.

Discovering how hearing works and all the systems woven intricately together to enable us to hear had me in awe about my fantastic body. It was scary to see how many things can cause hearing loss, and especially that the most significant cause of hearing loss – noise exposure – is primarily preventable.

The past seven months were a process of growth as I explored my journey with hearing loss and how it shaped me into the person I am today. It also included examining the feelings of rejection and isolation I’ve felt so intensely as a sensitive introvert.

But how did Showing Grit become Silent Courage?

Writing a book is only the beginning. Once you complete and publish it, people need to discover it. When I started with keyword research, I quickly found that Showing Grit did not have the best keywords in the title.

After some brainstorming, I’ve decided on Silent Courage. I love this new title because it captures the essence of my book.

Silent captures the essence of my experience with hearing loss when not wearing my hearing aids and the therapeutic experience of silence in solitude.

Courage highlights the strength and resilience needed to navigate hearing loss challenges regarding communication, noise and listening fatigue and build meaningful connections.

Silent Courage symbolises the strength I find in silence, building resilience, and developing the courage to embrace who I am – an introvert with hearing loss. It means embracing my unique strengths as an introvert, advocating for my needs with hearing loss, and developing strategies to handle challenging listening situations.

Yesterday was my 55th birthday. Sitting down and reading the first draft of my book Silent Courage: An Introvert’s Journey with Hearing Loss was a humbling experience and the best birthday present ever!

I look forward to the rest of the process until I can release this book. I hope it will make a difference and help others facing the many challenges of an introvert with hearing loss!

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