Given a choice between wisdom and courage, which would I choose from the buffet of life? My first thought was to choose wisdom, for who doesn’t want to be all wise and knowing? Upon reflection, however, I realized courage is the wiser choice.

There are three kinds of courage.

*  Brave courage

This is the outward courage which enables a person to run into a burning building to save another. The courage it takes for brave soldiers to put themselves in harm’s way for all of us. The stalwart courage of a hero. We all hope to display this courage if ever put to the test, but this is not the courage I am speaking about.

*  Foolish Courage

The courage summoned on a dare. The blind courage of the foolhardy individual who would dive into a body of water, not knowing the depth. This type of courage is unwise because it can put others and oneself in danger, but this is not the courage I am referencing.

*  Inner Courage

This is the courage deep within which allows us to experience a spirit of adventure, gives us the ability to take risks, affords us the moral character to have beliefs and stand by them in the face of opposition. It is courage which allows us to carry on during adversity. When we are defeated by life’s challenges, it takes courage to pick oneself up and start over again.

Inner courage is the courage I choose. 

How constricted life would be without the inner courage to endure pain, fear and the ever possible threat of danger. It takes courage to live a full life without uncertainty or intimidation. We aspire to achieve the virtues of honesty,patience,perseverance, compassion, humility, faith and hope, but without courage we would surely waver in our good intentions.

I do not want to live a narrow existence. I want to get out of my comfort zone, take chances, be my authentic self without fear of disapproval or ridicule. I do not want to be held back by shyness or timidity. I want the courage to dive into the deep end of the pool of life, and when I am overcome with doubt, I want the courage to keep on swimming toward my goals. It would be devastating to be cramped or possibly drowned in my own lack of courage.

Life has a plethora of choices. It takes courage to act on those choices and maneuver life into a positive direction. It is all too easy to give in to the temptations of apathy, greed, popularity and approval of others. It takes courage not to rest on one’s laurels of past achievements. When all is said and done, I want to know I lived the best possible life and had the courage of my convictions.

Yes, in the magnificent buffet of life, I choose a heaping serving of courage in order to live life to the fullest, until my cup runs over with happiness and realized dreams. Not only do I choose courage, I will have a second helping.