What Real Courage Is
78What is real courage? Is it the ability to stand and fight? Or maybe it’s knowing when to concede defeat? Is it guts, audacity, daring. Not fearing to tread where others have never trod before? Or do we define courage by acts of heroism – those that serve their country or community. The people that leap into danger, with no thought to their own safety.
Real Courage
Real courage is hard to define. Most if not all of us will face a point in our lives whereby we will face adversity of some kind or another. At that point, we can define courage by the way in which we meet such difficulties.
For me, defining courage is easy. It’s the ability that allows us to face our fears. To conquer our darkest nightmares. To face our future when nothing is certain. To stand tall and confront those who oppose us and prevent us from realizing who and what we are.
Courage is a virtue and it is said that without it, honor, integrity, empathy and other such virtues have no base upon which we can build upon. Strangely, real courage often lies within the gentlest of souls.
A Woman Of Courage
I know of one such person - a woman of courage. She writes among us, spends time among us, and hides much of her darkness among her narrative. It’s there, should you choose to read it. Her talent for writing is formidable. And it matches her courage.
She’s almost a poster child for sufferers of cyclical behaviour. For women that suffer inordinate amounts of abuse and neglect. Yet her writing is her shining light and part of what defines her.
Her words are not wasted, her time is well spent. Her courage is, at times, misplaced. But she has the guts, the strength of heart to keep going. She’s a mother, wife, friend, sister and daughter. And yet she feels alone.
In a world so full, so overcrowded, she feels alone. Confused and unsure of what she must do, where she must go and who she can reach out to. She is unaware of those that watch over her. But watch, they do.
She is one of us. And she is not alone.
If, like the woman I write of, you feel alone, fear being alone - then look for the hand that's being held out to you. Take your own courage in both hands and change what you can
Small steps and real courage are all you need.
Courage Quotes
Courage quotes are intended to inspire and motivate us. There are thousands to be found around the internet and in between the pages of books. My favorite by far was spoken by Ghandi - a man whom no one could accuse of lacking the courage of his convictions.
In todays world, where real courage is demonstrated in a myriad of ways, day in, day out, it's a wonder that anyone would need inspiring to take their own courage and face their fears. But - we are none of us perfect and our flaws are what make us unique.
Some among us overflow with courage and strength, come what may. Others allow fear and dread to hold them back. One of the most beautiful aspects of valour is the fact that it's often given to those that need strength - at times when they'd least expect that they need it ...
Success is never found. Failure is never fatal. Courage is the only thing - Winston Churchill
The brave venture anything - Anonymous
With audacity one can undertake anything - Napoleon Bonaparte
Silence is evil's closest ally - Gary Amirault
You must be the change you wish to see in the world - Gandhi
Everyday courage has few witnesses. But yours is no less noble because no drum beats for you and no crowds shout your name - Robert Louis Stevenson
Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage - Anais Nin
Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway - John Wayne
You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor - Aristotle
Courage is knowing what not to fear - Plato
Watchers
There’s an angel on the wing
he watches over you
yet even he is not alone.
An angelic host stands wordlessly by
They know, they hear, they see.
The fear, the confusion and pain
lashes at the hearts of the seraph
and yet they do not stand so idle
Your spirit remains in their keeping
Softly they strengthen your valour
your name they whisper.
They linger, watching. They hope.
Well thankyou UW - I appreciate your words :)
Beautiful hub, I was really touch when reading it.
So you are spending Christmas in the UK, good for you girl. I am doing like you Christmas in the U.K and New year in France. Have a wonderful time my friend and happy new year to you too.:)
Keira - thankyou :)
And that's good huh?! The best of both I guess! I hope we all have a wonderful Christmas Keira. I will certainly be thinking of all my friends :):)
Frogdropping - In the Army we always said Courage is not the absence of fear but the harnessing of its energy to accomplish the mission. Great Hub. And Merry Christmas!:)
Hmrjmr1 - what a great way of putting it. And a great quote! Thankyou and a Merry Christmas to you too :)
Great hub! I really enjoyed it and wondered if the subject is anyone I follow. Hmmmmm?
Merry Christmas!
Hey resspenser :) I have no idea. I'm sure if you'd read her work, you'd know that she was the one about whom I write - and thankyou.
Merry Christmas to you too!
She's still young and has her life to live, the courage to do it. Abuse is easy to detect, as even if you can't define or describe it, you feel it when it's there. And when you put an end to it no explanation needs to be given, no self-guilt needs to be felt. I'm of the opinion that more often than not you have to place yourself first, no matter how selfish I sound.
I know it's hard to get through to people. Inspiration and motivation certainly have their place.
Thankyou for the beautiful hub! :)
Merry Christmas Froggie...may you always have the courage to face life head on! :)
Haunty - you do have to put yourself first, in the end. But you have to realise that fact.And abuse comes in many forms - unfortunately some people view the victim as 'liking it' or not wanting to change their situation. It's so damn easy to judge when you're outside, looking in. Abuse is a disease in our society.
But it's been around since time began. There will always be someone, somewhere, willing to mistreat and neglect those that love them. That's part of what we are ... we feel the need for power. Just that with some it goes too far.
And thankyou, as always :)
Feline - I'm full of 'stuff', not courage but you can be sure I will always do what I must, when I must. And Merry Christmas back at you :):)
Lovely Work here FD with a message of wisdom and strength of character one could only find within the experience gained from knowing far more than lilypads. To your subject and to yourself; have a great Xmas and a Hoppy New Year. Courage truely is the ability to know oneself and accept that you have the right to be always happy without influence. Take Care.
Heyyyyyy PD! How are you?! And ohhhhh you've gotten me sussed huh? lol haven't we all been through adversity at one time or another though? I should think we have. And to you and your PD - have a fabulous Christmas and a glorious New Year x
Thanks Frogdropping, for the inspiring hub.
I like to think of courage as the acceptance of your fears.
Fear is constant and for me courage is acknowledging your fears and continuing to do what you desire to do regardless.
Brilliant hub and Merry Christmas
You're definitely right. Real courage is doing what has to be done even if scared. Great inspiring hub.
Hublim - you're most welcome :) And yes, courage is the acceptance of our fears. What frightens us often defines us. Courage can help us break free, save lives, change worlds.
A Merry Christmas to you and yours hublim :)
hypnodude - that's the point. But fearlessness is not to be confused with valour. Lacking fear completely sometimes leads to recklessness - so it's the balance that's important. Knowing when to face your fears but also knowing when to withdraw and fight another day :)
It takes a little nudge from the outside world every once in a while to remember the important things, doesn't it? Qoutes of insipiration at just the right time. I would have cried reading this, had I not been sitting in my kitchen with my youngest. :) The nasty thing about cycles, is that some are far more obvious then others. A person who truly loves thier abuser, can sometimes mistakenly think they are helping, by keeping quiet. Or if they have suffered abuse in the past, think "this CAN'T be abuse, it's not as bad as what happend before." I hope that anyone who reads this will understand they do not need suffer in isolation. What an amzing hub FD. You are a wonder. Have a fantastic Christmas.
Nice hub about courage, a hard to find value these days. Courage is really hard to define, because "courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and just listen". Keep hubbing!
Frog - Watchers? What a pleasant surprise! You expressed the truth beautifully. :) The way you put it reminds me of Janetta's prose, which, as you know, is my favourite. :D I'll be on the lookout for more such works from you. :D Thank you!
justine - you are most welcome. Have a great Christmas yourself. I hope all you wish for comes into being, sometime soon. Always your friend - FD :)
Lita - hey :) Great name by the way! Courage comes in many forms - I think we've all got it. It's what we use it for that really makes a difference. And thankyou :)
Haunty - I'm not a poet. Never have been, never will be. And I never said I wrote it, now did I? ;)
No frog. You didn't have to say. ;) Just so you know, I'm very happy now as I've got a letter from the woman in question. She said you have her. :)
lol Haunty - do you have me dead bang? I wrote it, of course. But shhhhh - can't have anyone thinking I'm a poet. I'm not!
And I'm glad you've heard from her. She needs friends and needs to know she has them :)
Great Hub FD,
I like it when we challenge people to think and meditate on such in-depth issues.
well done.
Brother Don
This is absolutely beautiful. Your words honor this woman, who, I'm afraid, I don't know. At least I don't think so! :o)
Very touching and inspirational, as well as quite eloquent. Thanks for sharing this--I've been needing a shot of inspiration lately!
Brother Don - thankyou. I appreciate your words :)
lorlie - and thankyou to you also. It certainly does honor her - and millions of others around the world :)
Mike - that's good to hear. Eloquent. I like that, thankyou :)
beautiful hub, a very inspirational read. thanks.
ambieca - thankyou :) You have a lovely name, similar to my sister ;)
FD! Long time and I must say that you are looking very festive!
Wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays on this very excellent hub. What an uplifting and great Christmas hub.
As for courage - I always try my hardest not to put my own to the test :)
Beautiful Hub, well done! Thanks for posting.
Shiba - how are you?? So good to see you stopping by! I wish you and yours the same as you've wished me ... and thankyou :):)
Jersey Jess ... thankyou ;)
This is a wonderful hub, and you are right FD that courage can be defined in many ways. Over the years I've learned that it takes courage not to judge others; sometimes courage shows up as an unspoken word;and other times it reveals itself as a friend that loves you just the way you are. I hope your friend understands that within this hub "courage" describes you both.:) Thanks for sharing!
Hi frogdropping,
I can relate well to this one, nicely said, courage as what you said is "to face our future when nothing is certain", very inspirational,
Thank you for this one,
You got me,
Maita
Money Glitch - thankyou (very much) for your sentiments. I don't kno that I'm particularly corageous but let's face it - we all step up when we need to. Merry Christmas to you :)
PDH - hello there! Thankyou for stopping by and understanding the point of this hub. Merry Christmas to you and yours PDH x
Sometimes courage is having the ability to stand and fight, but choosing not to. Nice hub!
Courage : It is the only think that made me to fight against negative words from others. Really helpful to build my courage more strong,
Thanks for writing.
GW - hey there :) You've got it ... courage comes in many forms :)
itech - glad to see you're still around and thankyou for stopping by, good to see you :):)
I so enjoyed your hub. I also can relate in way too many ways to your writing. Courage is a path we can choose to walk or avoid. I know of no other way to do life. I do appreciate you and others who notice when friends are courageous.
Nice! I love this! :)
wow, This is lovely, FD! You are an incredible writer and "poet!" ;) I knew you had a poet in you!!
New Year blessings to you! :D
Fantastic hub FD!! I've had to choose both sides of the battles in my life.. and didn't always choose the right one. Sometimes it's hard to see the big picture in the heat of battle, that's where friends like you come in.. to shine that light and give council and strength where there is little of either. Thank you for saying it so beautifully!
What a great hub frog! Really makes you stop and think.
Great Hub Frogdropping, happy holidays!
As others have said, what a nice Hub. As the new year approaches, it's a good time for readers to view this particular Hub.
Superb!
I loved this.
thank you.
Ohhhhh you guys sneaked in whilst I was busy travelling!
Ok - karmicfilly -you're welcome and thankyou :)
pb - and thankyou too!
I*n*v*i*c*t*u*s - ahhhh so you too are convinced I wrote the poem huh? Keep it under your hat. I can't write poetry. In fact I just plain can't write ... I'm a frog remember. lol I meant a fraud! ;)
Candie - I know you have. And nothing and nowhere I haven't been either. And still, I fall. But the trick is knowing when to carry on, when to recoup, rethink or even simply sidestep ;) And Candie ... thankyou :)
Wendi - thankyou, I sure hope it does :)
sd - and the same to you and yours, thankyou :)
Lisa - thankyou :) I hope folks get the meaning - I don't mind the date. be good to start off on the right foot though. Or flipper ;)
Bieb - wow! thankyou :)
This was a wonderful Hub frogdropping. A type of encouragement to everyone who reads it. Well done!
Courage- what the lion had all along aye? Love this hub. You are quite eloquent. I shall be a fan!
DoB - thankyou :)
ladyjane - Thankyou for jumping upon my lilypad. Take care your toes don't become wet ;)
Ahhh I think I know this one well. Very nice of you FD to write this in the way you did. I don't think I am very courageous any more. I am cringing with the fear of this dam winter. You are most courageous for you took the trip on the plane.
ralwus - hey there :) And for sure you're up with the brave among us Charlie, we both know what you've dealt with at times and yet here you are, soldiering on a seeing the good things in life. You could give in you know - but you don't. That's real courage - hugs x
Charlie is brave, weather he likes it or not!! Just had to stop by and re-read this today. Its lovely. :)
Justine - he most vertainly is! And thankyou, I enjoyed writing it :)
Very nice work :]
And its been three months already? My goodness...
Yup - three months. Time flies huh?!
Uninvited Writer Level 4 Commenter 2 years ago
What a wonderful hub. Very nicely said.