What is courage?

Today's entry is a commentary on courage and preparation for a speech I hope to make this week at my local Toastmasters club. For those that may not be familiar with Toastmasters it is a very positive non-profit organization which focuses on helping people be the best communicators and leaders they can be! They have member clubs throughout the world and for as little as $4.50 per month they provide an environment of learning like no other I've seen.

There are manuals that are part of the learning. The basic manual goes over the basic skills. I am planning to speak out of one of the basic manuals for my speech this week on the subject of courage. My objective is to persuade others to take action when action is needed. The timing on this speech is a 5-7 minutes.

Some brainstorming thoughts on courage...it can come in many forms...liquid courage, naive courage, desperate courage are some forms. It's not always about a conscious choice. It's about doing what's needed when it's needed. It's about returning things that you've found, it's about taking time to help someone in need, it's about facing up to your shortcomings as well as taking opportunities to grow!

It's about knowing your weaknesses...like Peanut Buster Parfaits....and turning them into strengths....taking time to enjoy a treat with a friend.....




I've thought more and I think it's interesting how the word courage is in the middle of the word encouragement...don't you? Here is a great site on the topic of encouragement: http://encouragement-wired.com/default.aspx I get the newsletter and it is amazing the stories of people overcoming adversity that get posted here.

More brainstorming - courage is about being little but acting big, it's about the wisdom of not being too wise not to act, it's about so many things. There is an element of courage in all virtues and positive values: compassion, love, persistance, integrity, hope, etc.......sometimes the more we know the less we want to act....for fear of doing the wrong thing....the opposite of courage is fear. Courage is within us, around us and compels us.

Some short clippings from my past on courage....the courage to memorize my math times tables, spelling words and catechism lessons to compete in a contest! The courage to walk to school alone. The courage to learn something new and know you can do it. The courage that comes from someone believing in you despite your misgivings. The courage to step up to the plate and bat the ball, to step onto a court and swing the racquet, to strap on those roller blades and go skating, to pull on those ice skates and go gliding, to do almost any sport for the first time....

What is courage? I'm still working on it...more later...:)

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