Spirit; n. – the quality of courage, energy, and determination or assertiveness.
It’s been said that courage is not the absence of fear, but doing what you know is right in spite of fear. There are so many examples of courage in literature and in history. One that stands out to me is Joan of Arc. I only recently read more about her death and trial and how she responded to her accusers, and I respect her all the more.
“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” – Joan of Arc
I feel like it’s one thing to have courage when you are “in the moment”, among your peers, fighting with them together for a common cause – many have had their hearts strengthened at the right time in the right place and have done great and admirable things. But the way she was resolute, whether she was leading an army as a teenage peasant girl, or in captivity and danger from her enemy as a prisoner of war is truly inspiring.
It’s not likely any of us will be the next Joan of Arc. History only needed one, just as it needed only one Rosa Parks, only one Florence Nightingale, only one Harriet Tubman.
It also needs the one and only you.
You won’t be Joan of Arc, and that’s ok. You will be the only you there will ever be. So whatever may come your way, may you have the same kind of strength and courage of all those famous heroes of the past who I’m sure would be the first to tell you, they were nothing special, only regular people, doing the right thing in spite of fear, one day at a time.
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