Finally, Sappho’s image invites a practical question: what is your “brief, brave song”? It need not be musically impressive; it might be a line from a childhood lullaby, a fragment of a hymn, or even a wordless tune you invent. Consistently returning to this melody in moments of hesitation can turn it into a personal anthem, a signal to yourself that you choose action over silence. Athletes, protesters, and worshippers alike have long used chants and songs to hold steady under pressure; your private version follows the same logic on a smaller scale. Over time, the association deepens: beginning to sing already hints that you will act despite your fear. Thus, as Sappho suggests, melody does more than soothe—it quietly clears the way, making room for the braver self you are trying to become. [...]
