What is Courage? Who are the Courageous people in your life?

Hi Everyone!

Hopefully, you've all been keeping as cool as you can with this heat! This is crazy!!!!

Anyhow, as usual I was waiting for a subject to "come to me" before blogging and, frankly, I was getting worried because I couldn't make my mind up.

Then I saw it. I had finally had a few minutes to browse through what was going on in my Facebook account. Scrolled down to see the funny (and sometimes not so funny) pictures/cartoons/sayings. I read about some of the things my "friends" had been up to. Then I came across a post from someone I knew in college. 

To give you a bit of background- when I was a junior in high school the community college in my area (Onondaga Community College) allowed me to take minimal classes in high school and spend most of my time at college getting a "jump" on my career path. I was 16 when I entered college and successfully juggled high school and college for two years. I was one of the youngest people in my college program (Music) and when looking back, I can say with all honesty, that at the time I thought I knew the "deal". I thought I was so "mature" and handled everything so well. Well, hindsight being 20/20 and all, when I think back about those times sometimes I cringe at how naive and "young" I really was. But I digress.

The person from my college whose post I saw was always someone who I wanted to know better, but somehow never did. I remember admiring him and his talent. I remember seeing him in productions and seeing him perform (whether it was performing or playing) and wondering how in the heck someone could have that much talent in one body! Looking back, I can say I was pretty intimidated by him, but back then I saw things a lot differently.

Fast forward 30 years. (WOW!)Facebook is here and he was nice enough to accept my friend request. Throughout the years I had heard what he was up to. Never paid too much attention. You know how that is...your own life takes center stage!! The past few months I have been skimming over what's going on in his life. And what he has done has made me admire him all over again. Up until last week, my admiration was pretty general, not over the top etc... He had done well. Has been living with his partner for 30 years. They have two children. His partner has been a successful performer on Broadway and now is a successful teacher. He had a successful career as well, and now has an Aveda salon. All of this was fantastic and as anyone would react, I was/am happy for him.

Then I saw his post. Al and David had been together for 30 years. They have two children (beautiful!) and every picture I have seen of these guys they have radiated happiness. Then this post. They were holding their annual BBQ and surprised all of their friends by making it their wedding day. So, much to all of the guests surprise Al and David, after 30 YEARS of being together, FINALLY were legally married. The ceremony and comments by each of them were beautiful. And both of their children were right by their sides when they did this. Fantastic.

So, why do I tell you this? Because my subject today is about COURAGE. And this is one of the finest examples of Courage I have seen. Websters defines courage as: Mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty. Synonyms: Mettle, spirit, resolution and tenacity.

And in my book, staying together, raising two children together, making no apologies for who they are and how they live their lives, takes an awful lot of Courage. Living in a small town, two men together and raising two children is not an easy task (raising children in general in not an easy task). They have been together through the '80s where the bias, discrimination and hate of same-sex couples was rampant. They lived together during the '90s where it was just becoming a "little" acceptable to stand up for your personal rights to love who you choose. And now the new millennium where game changing has been the norm and the laws regarding same-sex marriages and civil unions are making enormous strides forward. 

They had the COURAGE to live their lives as they wanted regardless of prejudice and dicrimination. To me that is courageous.

There are many, many public figures, famous people, personalities in the news etc ... who flaunt their "courageousness", who want you to see them do courageous deeds, who sometimes only act courageously when they know it will be seen and heard and broadcast.

What I challenge you to do is this: look around you. Look at your friends and acquaintances. Where do you see courage? In my experience the most courageous people are ones who do what they do with no fanfare and no expectation of accolades. They just DO.

So, tell me...who are the courageous people in your life? And when you find them, how do you celebrate them? Maybe it's just a matter of thanking them. Maybe that's where we should begin. 

If you do one thing today to make a difference thank the courageous people in your life. You won't be sorry you did. And neither will they.

Thanks for reading! As always stay healthy, eat well and be happy!!!!