During our hike across the country hundreds of people were kind to us. Almost all of them wished us to “Be safe” or “Safe travels” upon our departure.
Think about the irony in that.
It’s a topic I’ve covered before, when we first returned from the journey. The people wishing us to “Be safe” or “Safe travels” failed to heed their own advice, particularly those that took us into their homes. Neither happiness nor kindness draw from being “safe” or “secure.” Risks must be taken to display your caring for another person.
Dictionary definitions of “courage” tend to make it sound heroic, with an emphasis on facing “fear” and “danger.” I consider “courage” as the willingness to risk safety, security or comfort for a virtue, such as kindness or community. I leave out the thrill seeking that many adventurers, including myself, have done simply for our own pleasure, no matter how dangerous. However, I include small, seemingly insignificant acts such as sacrificing one’s comfort for the sake of a community function.
Courage thus becomes a virtue itself. Without it we might care, but would not venture beyond caring to kindness if any risk was involved. Courage is right by helping a group function and survive through the big and small risks taken by individuals to make things better. Courage is good in that we feel better from daring more then from fearing.
So don’t “Be safe.” “Be kind” or “Be happy!”
