The working edges of your courage

I was surfing this morning, and the waves were huge. I lost my nerve on two of them. Fear won.

I was not alone. 

I think about the courage it takes to catch a huge wave. Sometimes, naiveté.  Most of the time, skills developed over many years of surfing.

There are so many places where my courage rises to the occasion. I am fearless in situations that require a stand against injustice. As I have gotten older, I am fearless in the way I present myself; I have too much to get done to worry about what people think of me.

But going over the falls of a huge wave is not a requirement, other than for my development and for the exhilaration I know I will feel if I catch it. 

I do not fear being out there when the surf is huge. I do not fear getting tumbled and tossed when caught on the inside of a breaking wave. Many people would fear that.

I think about courage and my edge in developing courage. I can live with my choices to demonstrate courage today. And that really is the test. Are we courageous in acting on the things that matter most to us? Do we trust ourselves to stand for our heart? 

I am pretty sure I will reach a place where I will catch waves like today. But not yet. Not until my skill and resulting confidence are intrinsic. 

What are the working edges of your courage? 

Photo May 13th 2025, Article written May 13th 2025