Courage

What is courage?

Tonight I read some of my fiction in front of an audience at an open mike.  It went well but to be honest, I don't really like doing it.  It makes me nervous and frustrated by my lack of natural talent in the area of "acting".  It started out being a really great thing and now it has become.... well, work.

When people talk about living their dreams, they don't talk about the part of the journey where it rains or they have blisters.  They give the highlights bathed in the glory of completion.  It sounds romantic to have wet feet and dirty hair for weeks on end.  But in reality, it's work and pretty awful work at that.

Making dreams come true sucks.  It is hard, nerve-wracking, exhausting, bank account emptying and tough on relationships.

It seems so much more exciting to slay a dragon and ride off into the sunset with the pretty girl.  But guess what?  Once the adrenaline rush is over, there's this chick that talks and talks and needs special food.  She rides your horse while you walk and then expects you to marry her. Yep, it's work.

What is courage?

Personally I'd have to say it was stubbornness bordering on idiocy.   I mean really, the only difference between an idiot and a success is the fact that one's persistence paid off while the other's didn't.
I'm thinking that people who persist in making their dreams come true, fully expecting the wet socks and dirty hair, are the courageous ones.  They are the workers.

I think courage is an act of faith in the value of work.

Here's a thought:

What if you were to think of all that hard work you have to do as acts of courage instead of tasks to accomplish on the way to slaying the dragon and rescuing the pretty lass (or lad)?