I read The Book of Qualities by J. Ruth Gendler at least twenty years ago and recently pulled it off my shelf to look at again. The Book of Qualities presents 74 qualities–including Pleasure, Anger, Terror, Beauty, and Change as everyday characters who live among us. At the time, I found it original, clever and whimsical, with lines like:
Excitement wears orange socks.
Despair papered her bathroom walls with newspaper articles about acid rain.
Joy drinks pure water.
The Book of Qualities by J.Ruth Gendler. See what you think of this one called Courage:
There it is, folks. The Book of Qualities by J. Ruth Gendler. It’s an old one, but also a treasure. Today, I feel like I could use a deeper understanding of courage. Do you have days where you feel more courageous than others? What do you think courage is? Where do you think courage is found? How do you think can we access it? As always, I’d love to hear from you.
P.S. I am an ex-shrink who writes award-winning novels. Check out my books here.
From The Book of Qualities.
Email subscribers weigh in on “courage”:
“What great descriptions of feelings–I like “excitement wears orange socks”-you can “feel”the energy. About Courage,for me it is often elusive and changes from day to day. I think I am most full of courage when I stop trying to be strong and turn my life over to that (also elusive) Great Spirit and say that I will try to follow direction which means that I have to listen carefully or be open to the gentle and subtle nudges..Perhaps this works for me because I have always been better at being present to other people than to myself and this takes me out of myself. This is a good, thoughtful topic.”
And:
“Susan, It is ironic you used the word courage as your topic today. I have always felt somewhat courageous until January 27 when My husband of 52 years passed away. Now I feel lost and sad and not a bit courageous. Courage is taking one step at a time, one day at a time into a new scary life of what ifs. We had a good life together and I hope this comforts me along my journey to new beginnings. Always enjoy hearing from you, Mary”
And:
“Hi susan.
When you stumble and fall face first onto the pavement, chipping a front tooth, splitting your lip, skinning your nose and bruising your cheek bone, courage is the outstretched hand that reaches to you from inside yourself and helps you to stand up again.”
Courage. Sometimes it’s this
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/CowardlyLion.jpg
And sometimes it’s this
https://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/beefeater%20gin.jpg
🙂
John, you make me laugh. I thank you for that.
Courage is being able to smile in the face of adversity. Courage is being able to move forward, even against the wind.
Thank you for your selection. I enjoyed reading it.
Love, Stace
Thanks for your comment, Stace. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂
For me, courage is doing what needs to be done. Courage is action (sometimes expressed as non-action). Feelings are not part of it. Sometimes courage feels good, sometimes scary, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes horrible. Those are just the feelings courage can generate, but they are courage itself or even something you need courage to overcome. Courage need not be difficult. In fact, it can be the easiest thing in the world.
Wow. I want some of that!
Hmm, meant to say, “[feelings] are NOT courage itself…”
Do you still want it? 😉
Hi, Susan. Thank you for your kind words at my site. Your book looks lovely. I also enjoyed the poem. It is awesome! It reminds me of my grandmother. Her strength was amazing, even when all seemed hopeless. I gained a lot of courage through her examples. I used to be a coward (and sometimes still am), but writing also helps me find courage. Thanks for sharing these beautiful thoughts to ponder. It’s very nice to meet you!
Courage is moving ahead and doing what needs to be done even when you have no idea what the outcome will be. Or is that faith?
Hi Laurie. Great to hear from you! Maybe courage and faith are related, like sisters or really good friends.:)