The Joi of Courage: The Joy of a New Beginning
Your New Beginning Starts with Courage 💜
The Joi of Courage: The Joy of a New Beginning
Do you see that big smile on my face? The sun kissing my skin? The wind playing in my hair?
What you don’t see is the bounce in my step as I walk across the nearly empty parking lot on my last day of federal service. That day was the end of one chapter—and the beginning of something entirely new.
I know many of us left federal service for different reasons. Some were forced out, fired, or laid off. Some felt pushed by burnout or pulled by something greater. And then there were those of us who saw the opening—and stepped through it. Whether we had a detailed plan or nothing but a gut feeling and a prayer, we walked away with one common thread: Courage.
It might not feel like courage in the moment. Maybe your departure wasn’t on your 2025 vision board. But trust me—courage showed up anyway. It was there when you opened job listings the next day. When you canceled unnecessary subscriptions to protect your peace and budget. When you finally took a chance on that business idea you’d tucked away for years.
Courage isn’t always loud or bold. Often, it’s the quiet resolve that shows up after the knot in your stomach fades and your heartbeat settles. It’s what moves us forward—sometimes in fear, but always in faith.
That photo? It’s me on my final day in federal service. A day I’ll never forget—but just one chapter in a much bigger story. Looking back, I know I was courageous that day. You can see it in my eyes, can’t you? That was the beginning of something new.
Who I Am
I’m Joi Milhous—a 60-year-old, globe-trotting grandmother of 18, a former international protocol director, and a woman who has rebuilt her life more times than I can count across three continents. I’ve weathered storms that nearly broke me, but I’ve always found a lifeline in courage.
Why The Joi of Courage Exists
This space—The Joi of Courage—is for you.
For the quiet battles, the whispered prayers, the radical decisions that shift everything. It’s where we honor our resilience and gather strength from one another. Because courage is the main ingredient of hope—and hope is where new chapters begin.
What to Expect
Each week, I’ll share stories of transformation, reinvention, and the kind of bravery that rarely makes headlines but absolutely changes lives.
So if you've ever stood at a crossroads, afraid but determined—this is your community.
Let’s walk this journey together, share our stories, and rise with courage, again and again.
💜 Join me. Let’s rise, rewrite, and soar—together.