Courage… by JoAnn

A green street sign with the word " courage " on it.

I have never thought much about whether or not I have Courage. I know that when there is fear, I try my best to fight it. Is that Courage? I’m not sure.

I read a beautiful quote recently by author Mary Anne Radmacher that I just adore. It says, “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes Courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.”

That quote describes me to a tee. I don’t roar. I am much more likely to pass my fears onto the next day in hopes of being able to conquer them. I guess some people would think that wrong. Why not roar? Why not face it all today?

Today doesn’t always hold enough time, patience, and energy to conquer every situation. Why not try again tomorrow with a fresh dose of all three. That makes much more sense to me.

I have always admired people who seem courageous in tough times. They rarely show their fears, and when they do, it’s in a positive way and not with weakness. Fear has always felt like a weakness to me.

Perhaps it was being raised by a mother that to this day, has my vote as being the strongest woman I have ever known. I never saw fear in my mother’s eyes. I know she spoke of it at times, but I never saw it take her over. She always seemed stronger than any fear she may have been faced with.

How did she do that? Perhaps her upbringing in the Great Depression is what made her tough. She told us stories of coming home from school and being so hungry she would pull up an onion in the garden and eat it like an apple because there was nothing else. Or every Christmas asking my grandmother for a doll that only cost a nickel and was told they couldn’t afford it. Going through such tough times as a child would surely either break you or make you stronger. I am thankful it made my mother stronger.

So with all that being said, one would assume that if a person has Courage, they are a strong individual? Strong at all times, or just when they are faced with fear? I always thought of my mother as strong all the time. Ready to face anything put before her. What a wonderful person to look up to. Thanks, Mama.

So the question remains, do I have Courage. I don’t feel as though I do. But feelings are fickle. Perhaps the Courage is there, waiting for when I really need it. Maybe not all things we fear actually need Courage to overcome them. Perhaps we need to Just Do It! No thinking, not letting fear evolve or become involved, just do it.

I don’t believe fear could be controlled that well for everyone. But I’d certainly be willing to give it a try.