Courage

Courage: noun the ability to do something that frightens one: she called on all her courage to face the ordeal. • strength in the face of pain or grief:

There have often been observations about courage, but since Kaitlyn Jenner's debut there has been a new trend. What have gotten my attention are meme's with split pictures citing 'This is courage' (usually a military picture) and 'This is not' (a picture of Kaitlyn).

This bothers me.

Presuming to know what takes courage and what doesn't is something I cannot wrap my head around. I think back to Dancing With Wolves' opening scene where Lieutenant Dunbar rides into the middle of the battle field. He is honored for his bravery and yet, it wasn't bravery at all. It was desperation. Frustration. Suicidal ideation. Yet, to the onlookers it appeared as courageous.

My take on courage is not based on the results after the act, but on the moment before the act, independent of the actual results. Courage is overcoming the fear before the act takes place. Just because the results turn out favorable, does not lessen the initiating courage.

So, given my formula, it takes as much courage to put on a military uniform for the very first time as it does to carry an injured buddy to safety. And it took as much courage for Kaitlyn to put on a dress for the first time in front of cameras, as it did to put on the military uniform for the first time.

How can anyone presume to know what it takes for another to do something? Is courage limited to those acts with which we can identify and no more? What about the agoraphobic who takes that first step outside her house? Isn't that courageous even though most of us do that every single day without a second thought? What about allowing yourself to be vulnerable in a relationship? Isn't that courageous even though no blood could be shed?

It is easy enough to say 'there are degrees of courage', I certainly agree. It has taken differing degrees of courage in my life to do various things. Things I've done most recently have been more risky than things I did in my youth, and due to who I was, it required more courage to do the things of my youth.

Courage cannot be calculated by anyone else's risk assessment. Only the person doing the deed.

How do some people feel entitled to appoint themselves judge and jury in such a personal endeavor?

No one person's courage need affect anyone else's, except maybe to provide inspiration. That is pretty courageous right there.