Home » What Does It Really Mean To Be Brave

What is bravery these days? Of course, it’s our troops fighting for their lives, but how does bravery come up in our own daily lives? Most of us don’t save people on a daily basis, although there are some who do. I’ve often pictured scenarios where I would save someone by pulling them our of a burning car, or giving them mouth to mouth and CPR. Hasn’t happened yet.

I think bravery is getting up every morning, and dealing with all life’s hassles. And dealing in a way where we can stay calm and collected and use our intelligence to get our thoughts across to others. Not picking up a garbage can and hitting someone over the head. Can we let rude comments roll off our shoulders, or do we slouch for the rest of the day, never getting over the impact that words can have on us? And why do words have that impact? Our intellect knows they are just words in a dictionary that may have a negative sound, and meaning, but nonetheless, are just words. That doesn’t stop us from feeling emotions we attach to those words. I guess that’s the key. We attach emotions to words.

My mom was a brave person. She would sit and keep her mouth shut for a couple of hours, while my dad ranted and raved. He was letting out all his frustrations of working in a hot kitchen, and having six kids to support, and all the bills that were late. He would even blame my mother for these bills. She would just take it. She knew there was no pleasing this man when he was in this mood. So, why bother? Nothing is going to stop an angry remark or a nasty put down. And I would listen and watch, and as I got older I would question my mother, and then yell forletting my dad yell. She didn’t care, she was stronger than his words, and I knew it. She was brave every day of her life.

I was my father’s daughter, and was the one spewing the nonsense, not taking it. Maybe because I promised myself I would never allow anybody to talk to me the way my dad did to my mom. How could I then not realize that I was doing the same thing? Eventually I did, and changed my pattern of thinking and behaving. But I was like my father for many years. I’ve been deliberately and consciously working on my thoughts and actions and reactions for some time now. It’s very hard to do coming from the background I did. I haven’t quite learned how to shut my mouth yet, and I don’t know how far I’ll get with that. Maybe another year of reflexology! My sessions are helping calm the savage beast.

I wish I could be brave.