I did something brave this week. At least I was told I was. I was also told that I was “courageous.” I didn’t feel courageous or brave, though. When I think “brave,” I think of a person standing tall with their hands on their hips and a cape fluttering behind them. What I felt was pretty much the opposite of that. I felt my heart really big and hot in my chest. I felt my stomach cramping. I felt a light and buzzy feeling in my limbs. I felt like I had drunk too much coffee. Basically, I realize now, what I felt was fear. But, I did the thing that needed to be done anyway. And I’ll see it through. That’s what courage is. It’s what Atticus Finch said; it’s what other folks have said. And now I know it to be true, too.
