Courage

Courage is such a strong word. Everybody hopes for courage in moments when courage is most needed.

Winston Churchill once said, “One person’s courage can make a remarkable and lasting difference.”

History is full of instances of courage. What most immediately comes to mind is the courage and fortitude that our founding fathers demonstrated in the early years of our country. Before America gained her independence, it took tons of courage on the part of a great host of displaced Britishers to stand up and say in effect, “This we believe. This we declare as our right. This we clearly will establish and this we will fight for to the end.”

American prisoners of war have retold countless tales of courage in the face of pain, torture, suffering and hopelessness.

Olympic athletes have told amazing stories of enduring tremendous pain in the moment to give their all and then some to go for the gold and win. Courage in the face of pain – that’s the stuff of champions.

I’m not an Olympic athlete. You probably aren’t either. So, can we ordinary mortals also demonstrate courage?

You bet we can.

Read this excerpt from an email I received in response to another blog I wrote a few months ago.

“Thanks Michael. Timely words that helped soothe a slightly damaged psyche after a tough week at the office. The boss tried to force a significant ethical compromise on a colleague and me. We stood firm and did not cave in but still feel like walking wounded after the battle. I appreciate you and the "Up Words".

I know a lady who had to walk away from an abusive relationship in order to save her own life, both physically and emotionally. That took courage. To leave the semblance of some sort of security, defective though it was, and face the uncertainty of becoming a single mother, still raising a teenage daughter.

That was difficult. But it was also courageous.

What is courage? Read these wise words.

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”      
--Winston Churchill

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it is the little voice at the end of the day that says ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’”
--Mary Anne Radmacher

“Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.”
--Dan Rather

“Courage is doing what you're afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you're scared.”
--Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

“Courage can't see around corners, but goes around them anyway.”
--Mignon McLaughlin

“Sometimes the biggest act of courage is a small one.”
--Lauren Raffo

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”
--C.S. Lewis

“Courage is tiny pieces of fear all glued together.”
--Terri Guillemets


Beauty and the Beast and Macbeth both use one of my favorite new quotes
          “Screw your courage to the sticking place.”

Meaning: Gain courage, hold on to it. Never lose it.

So, gather up your courage. Face life. Hold onto essential truths and guiding principles.

“Screw your courage to the sticking place.”