Who is not afraid of the whale?

Fair estimation of the encountered peril. The older we get, by God’s grace, is and are the times we learn what courage can be and can become.

Disclaimer: I am afraid often. Not by what is “out there.” “ The brave person is not the one who is never afraid.” (wjb). Yet.No one wants to be that “guy” in an emergency who cannot cope with the chaos and conundrums, screams and chortles of the frenemies and enemies.

Enter.

Wisdom of getting through it when without honestly admitting it, we’d rather go around it.

Huh?🤔

Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.

Some may see this as “Stand your ground.”

Still, others stomp away in a huff of “I did not sign up for this.”

”Dispositions of character, virtues and vices(🍻, 🍶, 🍩🍬,) etcetera, are progressively fixed in us through practice.”

Huh?🤔

”By being habituated to despise things that are terrible and to stand our ground against them we become brave, and it is when we become so that we shall be most able to stand our ground against them.” (wjb)

Translation: Peace✌🏻takes time.

Reasonableness and practical wisdom. At the end of the day as well as the beginning of the day, a simple desire to do good helps, too.

How though?

Disclaimer: I can get rather cranky when I have a 100 percent belief things aren’t going my way. Have been known to stomp a foot or two, throw a this or that.

Over time and tantrum, I have learned practice makes perfect as well as a little grace from within. Springtime is popping up over the country and rendering its coming by beauty and a sneeze or two.

So. We may think, “Let’s Go Fly A Kite.”

O.k. Let’s……

Let’s Try. At the very least to enlist our inner Bravery and Perseverance to never give up.

How the Little Kite Learned to Fly

”I never can do it.” the little kite said,

As he looked around at the others high over his head.

”I know I should fall if I tried to fly.”

”Try,” said the big kite, “only try!”

“Or I fear you will never learn at all.”

But the little kite said, “I’m afraid I will fall.”

The big kite nodded, “Ah well, goodbye.”

”I’m off, and he rose toward the tranquil sky.

Then the little kite’s paper string stirred at the sight,

And trembling he shook himself free for flight.

First whirling and frightened, then braver grown,

Up, up he rose from the air alone,

Til the big kite looking down could see

The little one rising steadily.

Then how the little kite’s paper string thrilled with pride,

As he sailed with the big kite side by side!

While far below he could see the ground,

And the boys like small spots moving round.

They rested high in the quiet air,

And only the birds and the clouds were there.

”Oh, how happy I am!” The little kite cried,

”And all because I was brave, and I tried!”

(wjb)

Yes! Try. Try again. Practice makes perfect.

Fear is yucky.🤢 Better to get it out in the presence of the ones who have your back, even if the doubters say you cannot.

You can.

Life throws a lot as us every day. Surprises and reactions come from either deep down or may be shot from the hip. Easy answers exist only in the minds of lazy thinkers. We are tired of it.

Saying you will do something may take one kind of courage, but actually doing it requires a different type. Real bravery lies in deeds not words. (wjb)

Reminder to not pose and look in the mirror on the good days, too. There is a lot to be said for staying humble. Otherwise what may result is false courage which may rise from our own vanity. We should not aspire to simply look good by serving with good deeds and acts of kindness to others.

We should mean it, too.

There are countless ways to serve another. Every minute of every day.

A smile.

A pat on the head.

Make a list and it may surprise you all the ways doing good is

Good.

Moral courage is best practiced by not caring what the doubters think. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes and persons. We need them. We all do. Even if and when we are not getting our own way in the midst of the storm.

Some times, ya just gotta jump in the deep end, enter the maze. It may take you round and round with confusion that never seems to end the brain fog and tantrums. It really is ok to cut the self some slack for moments of terror-filled-fear.

Being afraid is a part of life. To conquer fear is a part of life. To do good by and for the sake of another is what may bring us all closer to the peace that passes understanding.

We become brave or fearful through our acts—our acts of kindness, our acts of lack, every day we make mistakes and have a new chance to right the wrong, do it better than before.

Try.

It is better for awareness of the collective whole rather than the most fearful ground of the small-minded who may spend the rest of their lives trying to convince others they had best interests at the heart of their motivations and intentions.

I dunno.

I prefer to believe in the goodness of most people. That is at least a good start. If I become blind-sided, it’s ok. Tomorrow is another day to re-group and just keep forging on to the good that is out there. It is ok to speak up. Keep it brave, keep it kind. Share what you can.

Keep your words soft and kind, because you never know when you may have to eat them. 😖

Whether you signed up for this or not. Chin up and charge the mound.

It will be o.k.