What is courage?
Courage : The mental or moral strength to persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty – Merriam Webster
While thinking about this, the first thing that comes to my mind is my earliest recollection of fear. I remember the sun was blazing into my eyes when my mother and aunt literally had to carry me like a swing (one grabbing my feet and the other my hands) to drag me to nursery school for the first time. I don’t remember that turning into courage, school just became routine.
Another early recall is my constant fights with the apartment building bully who was a few years older and much stronger, because I did not want to give in like the others. This continued until I turned 11 or 12. Considering that I was skinny and considerably weaker, this required what seemed to be at the time, monumental courage. I would get beat up, in tears, but still fight back.
Returning to the singing stage at 9 years of age after being humiliated by friends following a disastrous performance required courage. I remember that like it was yesterday.
I took a leap of faith when I made a bold trip to the USA with just some Greyhound bus coupons to secure a scholarship for my graduate studies. What I didn’t know didn’t hurt me, but in hindsight, it seems foolhardy. But it required courage. And it worked.
Like many of you, I have had to summon courage to confront authorities, challenge the status quo with older family members and institutions, take a long flight to India to face loved ones when my father passed away.
My life has been a great adventure, and I am grateful for all the great blessings that have come my way. My wife, children and I are fortunate to have been surrounded predominantly by great people, well-wishers, uplifters, and dreamers. They taught us to fail gracefully and learn, they gave us courage. These interactions were peppered with laughter, meaningful pursuit of goals, sharing in good times and bad times, and every now and then, apologies and forgiveness.
And then, sometimes people cause hurt, and never ask for forgiveness. This is a bitter pill to swallow, but bitterness is a poisonous pill that only hurts the one harboring it.
The most courageous thing I have had to do in my life is to forgive people who never even asked for forgiveness. It is not easy, but it is one of the most liberating experiences in life.
If you have anyone on your list that has been occupying valuable real estate in your mind for days, maybe months or even years, try forgiving them. That will set you free.