Bravery
comes in small doses. Sometimes, you don’t even notice it because the act is so
small. There’s no way to know if someone is brave, until a situation where
bravery is necessary presents itself, and you’re given a choice. When the
situation is of an urgent nature, that choice is never obvious, it’s not as
simple as picking to be brave or be a coward. You don’t realize a choice is
cowardly until you’ve already made it, until you’re out of the situation and
you realize the nature of your decision. That kind of situation usually doesn’t
present itself. For regular citizens, most of the time, bravery comes in small
doses: saying no to a crowd that pressures you to say yes, helping someone at a
personal cost, or, my personal favorite, taking a stand in your own life. Peer pressure
is an external obstacle. Personal cost, however high it may come, comes with
the peace of mind and satisfaction of providing aid for another. But, taking a
stand in your own life means you overcame the biggest obstacle you could ever
face: your own fear. At the end of the day, isn’t that where all bravery takes
root? Saying no to the crowd means you didn’t let the fear of not pleasing
others or being unaccepted get the best of you. Helping someone at a personal
cost means you put aside your fear of not overcoming that personal cost. In a
way, all bravery begins in the same place, and can be seen in small doses every
day. You just have to pay attention.
