Everyday Courage
October 21st, 2007 by Richard CockrumWhat makes a King out of a slave? Courage.
What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage.
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?
What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage.
What makes the Sphinx the 7th Wonder? Courage.
What makes the dawn come up like THUNDER?! Courage.
What makes the Hottentot so hot?
What puts the “ape” in ape-ricot?
Whatta they got that I ain’t got?
The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz
Even though I’ve been looking at this article for two weeks, ever since I got tagged in the courage meme by Aaron Potts. I’ve had a tough time with it. In many ways, I feel like the Cowardly Lion - Whatta they got that I ain’t got? I don’t feel especially courageous. I can’t think of anything especially courageous that I’ve done. I’ve gone through school. Served my time in the military - where I was stateside the entire time. Did what I felt was necessary to support myself and my family. Had children. Gotten married - twice. All normal stuff. Nothing unusual. All I’ve done is looked at what was in front of me, made choices based on what I saw, and acted.
But maybe that’s the point.
It is the choices that we make in our everyday lives that our courage is shown. Glenda Watson Hyatt, the author of I’ll Do It Myself, said
I do not consider myself courageous or brave for simply living my life and following my dreams. After all, what else am I suppose to do with my life?
What else are we supposed to do with our lives? There is not one of us who does not choose each day to either go after what we want, or to run away from what we fear. Courage cannot be demonstrated by someone who hasn’t known fear. Courage cannot be shown by someone who doesn’t know doubt. Courage is the decision to run toward your life, not away from your fears.
I keep coming back to a quote from Ellen Goodman
I have never been impressed by the heroics of people who are convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference after another.
Yeah. I think I am the Cowardly Lion.
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October 21st, 2007 at 9:17 am
Beautiful post Rick
I especially liked your comment, “Courage is the decision to run toward your life, not away from your fears.” I believe it takes courage to show up for ourselves everyday in all areas of our lives rather than only acknowledging certain things as worthy to applaud. It’s time we give ourselves credit for that!
Thank you for playing with this meme. I have been so moved by each person’s article.
Have a terrific day!
Lorraine
October 21st, 2007 at 9:27 am
Thank you, Lorraine. That’s my favorite line, too.
Keep running toward your life!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:34 am
Count on it Rick
Where else is there to go? I laugh and say, free will my ass. Once you begin waking up and becoming conscious, you can no longer hide in the dark. You have to move towards the light. That to me is what moving towards my life is about. Being alive and vibrant - glowing and flowing.
I’ve got my running shoes on!
October 21st, 2007 at 9:38 am
October 21st, 2007 at 9:56 am
Awesome stuff, Rick! You summed up the same concept that I was saying in my post on this topic.
Courage is being willing to say “I’m doing this or that because that’s what I want to be doing”. Whether that is saving the world or just crossing the street, as long as we are living up to our own personal integrity, then we are exactly as courageous as we should be.
October 21st, 2007 at 10:35 am
Hi, Aaron. Thanks for tagging me for this. I don’t know if we’re being as courageous as we should be, but we’re being as courageous as we can be.
October 21st, 2007 at 11:28 am
Interesting distinction Rick
I echo Aaron. According to whose definition and standards? If your intention is to be the best personyou can be to what life presents for you (and what you create), how can you be better or more courageous than your best in any given moment?
My invitation to folks is to celebrate being enough - good enough, courageous enough, lovable enough, smart enough……Ok - I’m going off on a bit of a tirade!
October 21st, 2007 at 3:22 pm
As usual, you write with transparency, Rick. That’s what I call courage. You are the REAL man!
October 21st, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Hi Lorraine,
The distinction may just be in my own mind. I tend to relate can to internal standards, while should I relate to external standards.
If that’s your definition of a tirade, feel free.
Without self-acceptance, we have no place to stand.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:01 pm
Hello Deb,
Thank you. I’m going to have to save that one for my wife.
October 21st, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I’m in favor of aligning with internal astandards rather than external ones Rick
In that way we are being true to who we are rather than who others wants us to be.
Not really a tirade, that ’s something I feel passionate about. Having the courage to show up everyday being authentic and celebrating who we are.
Cheers,
Lorraine
August 15th, 2008 at 6:40 am
[…] This episode of the Shards of Consciousness podcast is based on a post I wrote in October, 2007 called Everyday Courage […]