noun [U] the ability to do sth dangerous, or to face pain or opposition, without showing fear
We live in a relatively peaceful society here. We long lost our sense of courage.
People often discuss their problems with me. Sometimes they come and ask for advice, but most of the time it's just me being nosy. At the end of 99% of these chats, I'd tell them courage was the answer.
I am not sure how many of them understood what I meant, though.
In a relatively stable, but boring, society, people only have a limited set of problems. It's either about love or career. Most of the problems related to career are actually very practical and straightforward. It's only about rationally deducing the right choice and having the courage to take responsibility and risk of making that choice.
But courage plays a key role in this thing called love.
In a world without necessity, you boldly devote yourself to the one you love. You don't really have to love that particular person, you can actually love anybody, there's no destiny nor fate. It's the same for your lover. He or she can always stop loving you for no reason.
Even if the love between you two never dies, both of you can actually die on any day, at any time.
Think about it, it takes lots of courage to love somebody in this world of contingency. Your lover could suddenly stop loving you, or you two might be forever parted by the heartless hands of mortality.
But you still take the risk. You courageously love.
Courage is never a virtue solely for fighters in battlefield.
So next time when you're puzzled, make sure it's not about your cowardice.
