Chapter 44
The Journey to Emminster
XLIV By the disclosure in the barn her thoughts were led anew in the direction which they had taken more than once of late—to the distant Emminster Vicarage. It was through her husband’s parents that she had been charged to send a letter to Clare if she desired; and to write to them direct if in difficulty. But that sense of her having morally no claim upon him had always led Tess to suspend her impulse to send these notes; and to the family at the Vicarage, therefore, as to her own parents since her marriage, she was virtually non-existent.…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Courage vs. Desperation Moments
Think of a time when you needed to ask for help, advocate for yourself, or take a big risk. Write down what drove you to act when you did. Was it courage from a position of strength, or desperation pushing you forward? Now imagine that same situation with better timing, what would you change about when, how, or through whom you approached it?
Consider:
- •Consider how your emotional state affected how others perceived your request
- •Think about whether you had allies who could have helped prepare the ground
- •Reflect on whether you were asking the right person at the right time in the right way
Journaling Prompt
Write about a current situation where you need to be brave about something. What would acting from strength look like versus acting from desperation? How can you better prepare for the moment when courage is required?
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