By: Rimaa Taneja

I Am Learning…!

Since Saturday last I have not been able to sleep….only because the quest for answers to simple questions in life has kept me wide awake….What is Courage??

Recently preparing my son for his midterm English examination, I asked him to make a sentence on courage; even after thinking for a while and testing my patience (which is on short fuse!!! during high stress times such as exams of a 12 year old!!! ) he looked confused. Phew!! You can’t make a simple sentence….What kind of preparation is this? What does your teach at school? God! Why am i cutting down on my expenses and sending you to such an expensive school? So many questions were bombarded on the little one!!! , he still wore a blank look – his questioning eyes were asking me, “Mom what is courage???”

I was a bit calm now and started “Beta courage is hmmmmm…. Courage is the power…..!! No, No, Jesus! What is courage? Is it the deed that shows your courage? Is courage only when we talk of battlefields, soldiers, policeman who fight for the country or upload the law? Or is it being brave to face the devastation – people affected by floods or drought?”

Courage does not suddenly come in moment of plight or emergency, nobody can teach you how to be courageous! After all, in bad situations what can you do except cope with it with the strength and resource you have!! In doing so we ignore the everyday routine where we all show courage.

A toddler shows courage when he holds on to the table to stand upright the first time.

A student who is bent on improving grades shows courage. A man who works 24/7 to give best to his family, courageously driving through the potholed roads in the never ending jams.

A woman who keeps the house in face of rising prices with nobody feeling the effect of it.

Courage to me is discovery that it’s not a must win battle but still trying - knowing that you may lose.

The real courage is in daily lives. The courage to speak the truth at all times because LIES are biggest act of cowardice that one can try to hide behind.

Courage is To Stand Up For What You Believe In…