Soft Courage

Tess Burrows

£9.99

WARNING: this book may release the playful toy within you

In a busy and complex world, Soft Courage is a simple and inspiring tale. It reminds us of the things that matter and make people and the planet a better place.

It is told through the eyes of Yannick – a soft toy penguin – who accompanies author Tess Burrows (‘My Human’) in jumping out of a plane, hanging precariously on the rock face overlooking the city of Rio, biking the length of Britain and tackling peace climbs on far-flung Andean and Himalayan mountains. Their ultimate mission: to raise funds for Tibet and to promote peace on earth.

In a modern fable based on Tess’ own true-life adventures, Yannick battles with his ego and adversity to learn principles inspired by Tibetan wisdom: courage, compassion, friendship, inner peace, humbleness, determination, oneness and insight.

Will they lead to eventual happiness?

Extracts

As we sat quietly swaying with the motion of the waves I thought I’d better try too. If my promise is to be a better me, then perhaps I need to know who I am now so I can recognise who I am when I become better! I banned my Pegbert from saying anything and let my mind be calm. Wooh! I found it surprisingly easy to listen to thoughts floating by… I am the wind… I am the waves… I am the sunlight. Oh, great … but then those thoughts weren’t really much good were they? I could do with sensible sort of answers. Oh well. It was fun trying.

Extracts

“We have to stop the wrecking of our planet, Yannick," she said. "I think we should do a protest climb, to call attention to the plight of the Antarctic. That way a small group of people can make a big splash so that others will sit up and take notice." She meant, of course, people and penguins, but I let it pass, as I was so caught up in her excitement that we, a couple of small individuals, could do something good to make a difference for the earth.

The teacher wanted us to encourage the children to think about what they were doing to the environment. But they were so excited to see me that I was over cuddled and passed from child to child until a fight broke out. I became flustered custard and went into a Yannick panic, worrying that I might be separated from My Human. Where’s all this inner peace when I need it? I was rescued just in time and taken to the nice, safe newspaper and radio people. It's not always easy being so famous.

quotes

‘We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder. You always have the choice’‍

HH The Dalai Lama

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reviews

‘Tess has an insane amount of courage. I don’t know how she does it. This may sound like a children's book but I can assure you it’s very much for adults. ‘Uplifting’ is often a cliché but this really is the right time to use that word’

Nina Clapperton, Tripping Up

extras

How does a 60 year old grandmother train for a trek to the South Pole?

ABOUT

Tess Burrows

Tess Burrows is a peace activist, climbing instructor, healer, motivational speaker and grandmother.

After taking a degree in ecological science from Edinburgh University, she moved to Australia to grow trees. By the time she returned to the UK, she was the single mother of three young boys.

In 1990, she started adventuring in order to raise funds for projects close to her heart. Eight years later, with her partner Pete Hammond, she founded Climb For Tibet, to gather peace messages to declaim from high places. The charity has now raised more than £150,000, mainly for building schools in Tibet.

She is the author of three adventuring books – Cry From the Highest Mountain, Cold Hands Warm Heart and Touch the Sky – and two children’s stories, Soft Courage and Don’t Blame the Yeti, all published by Eye & Lightning Books.

Find out more about Tess at tessburrows.org.