“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
It may be a bit of an overworked cliche, nevertheless, it just feels right to write about courage on the first day of 2019, especially after spending my first ever New Year’s Eve alone. The cats and I set the abundance table, as per Feng Shui tradition, setting a place for an extra person. Then we watched Lord of the Rings – The Return of the King, to finish the series that we started a few days ago, along with The Hobbit. Feeling anti-social an lonely? Trust me, the Lord of the Rings marathon is a great solution!
Do I identify with Frodo? Most certainly, because it feels as though I am carrying a ring that grows heavier by the hour on some days, and derails me from my goal on others. Fear is a temptation and an excuse not to push ahead, but then the entire effort of walking the treacherous path would be rendered worthless if I gave up now. But I also identify with Sam, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn. They all had the courage to turn their backs on comfort, their homeland, and wealth in order to fight for the greater good. They sought strength in their friendship and trusted one another to be there when they faced the Orcs.
“A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day.”
-Aragorn, LOR – Return Of The King
There are many Orcs in my life, and sometimes all I have is that little sword that lights up as a warning. The rest of the journey I wing it, hoping for the best. So here’s to courage.
FrogDiva Thoughts 