Word of the Week: Misneach

Lately, I’ve been drawn to Gaelic words, these old-world terms layered with texture and meaning. There’s something grounding about them, like each word holds centuries of human truth. That’s how I stumbled on this week’s word: Misneach.

Pronounced: MISH-nakh, this word doesn't just mean “courage.”

It’s the kind of strength that rises slowly from the chest. The kind that doesn’t roar, but steadies. The kind that says,

“You don’t need all the answers. Just take the next step.”

And I really needed this reminder.

A Little Personal Honesty

I’ve been feeling weary, tired in my bones, stretched thinner than I like to admit. Worn down by the headlines. Drained by the constant swirl of needs, asks, and uncertainty.

But this past weekend, I made myself step away. I did some small, heart-and-bucket-filling things. Nothing dramatic, just enough to feel myself again: quiet time, a pause from the world, a few moments where I wasn’t absorbing everyone else’s needs.

And slowly, misneach crept back in. Not as a flood, but as a gentle steadiness.

Living in Uncertainty

We’re navigating a season of massive, daily uncertainty, the kind that touches everything:

• what’s happening in government

• what’s happening in our community

• what’s happening with the people we love.

But for some women in our community, uncertainty isn’t just emotional. It’s dangerous.

When Uncertainty Isn’t Abstract, It’s Survival

Some women are living with food insecurity, housing instability, mountains of people coming at them from all angles, and stress that sits like a stone in the gut. Some carry the very real and terrifying fear of ICE showing up, of their families being separated, of losing everything because of a system that was never built for them.

This isn’t overwhelm. This is survival mode.

And for them, misneach isn’t a poetic idea; it is a daily act of resistance.

It’s feeding your kids when your own stomach is empty.

It’s making a plan when you have no roadmap.

It’s gathering documents, making calls, and carving out stability from chaos.

It’s reaching out for help in a world that has taught you that asking is dangerous.

These women don’t just have courage. They embody it.

Courage as a Shared Responsibility

Their reality reminds the rest of us something vital: Courage is not meant to be carried alone.

Misneach is a communal strength. It grows in the spaces where we hold each other up, where we listen without judgment, where we redistribute what we have, where we remind one another: You deserve safety and support.

If You Are Living That Reality Right Now

Here are words for the woman who is exhausted, scared, or running on fumes:

• You are not alone.

• Your fear makes sense.

• Your strength is not defined by how well you hide your struggles.

• You deserve safety and stability.

• You are doing more than anyone sees.

• It is not your fault that the system is broken.

• You are worthy of care, protection, and rest.

  
  

Misneach is not asking you to be heroic. It’s offering you breath-to-breath courage.

A Day Away to Refuel

No matter what your life looks like, stepping away for even a moment is an act of courage.

Unplugging from:

• the headlines

• the outrage cycle

• the people who drain you

• the nonstop notifications

• the pressure to be available

is not avoidance. It is a strategy. It is how strength rebuilds.

Your courage grows when you allow yourself to refill.

Positive Self-Talk for Heart-Strength

A few gentle refrains for this week:

• I am allowed to rest.

• My strength returns in small, steady ways.

• Uncertainty does not mean I am failing.

• I don’t have to do everything today.

• It’s okay to take one step at a time.

• My heart will find steadiness again.

• I am held by community, even when I feel alone.

Carry one with you.

Helping Your Body Feel More Powerful

Strength often returns through the body before the mind catches up. A few supportive choices:

• Limit alcohol for a few days to let your nervous system reset

• Go to bed earlier, even by 30 minutes

• Hydrate, especially when you’re stressed

• Eat something nourishing before comfort foods

• Get outside, even briefly

• Move gently, stretching, walking, shaking off tension

• Wrap yourself in something warm to signal your body that you are safe

  
  

These aren’t luxury practices. They are foundation-building.

This Week’s Invitation

Let misneach be your companion.

For the weary. For the overwhelmed. For the women carrying more than anyone should.

For the ones navigating danger and uncertainty.For the ones trying to regain their footing.

Misneach doesn’t ask you to be fearless. It simply asks you to keep moving with heart.

One breath. One choice. One moment of courage at a time.

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About the Author:

Elizabeth Rago is a storyteller, media strategist, and community builder who’s equally at home writing compelling content or navigating teenage chaos with tea in hand.

A seasoned writer with 20+ years of experience across industries from mental health and design to insurance and advocacy, she’s also the founder of MDW (The Modern Domestic Woman), a no-fluff resource hub for women in transition.

Whether she’s ghostwriting for execs or spotlighting small-town gems, Elizabeth brings heart, humor, and a fierce belief in the power of connection.

Learn more at MDWcares.com or find her on Instagram and LinkedIn.