Bravery

Brave heroes ride on horseback

Arjuna in his chariot

Or little David facing Goliath’s taunts.

Or brave in spirit

Rosa Parks on her bus

Or facing a tank on Tiananmen Square.

But every day, great acts of bravery go on unseen

For many, getting out of bed is braver

Than anything on horseback

To face oneself unvarnished with utter honesty

Is an act of bravery

It is brave to confront one’s own battles

The endless jihad of self-control,

Reflection and self correction,

Self-awareness

And against selfishness

There is much bravery in perseverance

Persisting and moving forward

We walk forward on the frozen waters

Not knowing how thin the ice may be

That is life

And it demands bravery.