It occurred to me the other day that we all need courage in our daily lives. Not the courage we require of our first responders – I will always admire those people.

This is the kind of courage you need to walk into the office after the argument with your co-worker; the strength to face your mother when you know she’s going to disapprove of your actions. The ability to come face to face with your spouse when you’re on two different pages. Sometimes, it’s even the courage to stand in the morning, walk away from the bed, and be about your daily life.

We all have wells of courage and sometimes we have to go to them time after time.

I can only wonder how we replenish those wells. What quality is there in us that feeds us more courage when we need it? Is it witnessing other people’s acts of courage? Or are we inspired by what we read? Is it the unquenchable part of the human spirit that makes us continue on long after we should have stopped?

I’m probably more cowardly than most people. I’ve always thought it was because I feel things deeply and don’t like being in pain. Or doubt, for that matter. But being a writer requires that you be brave, even if you put on a paper mache mask to hide behind. You dare yourself each day.

Still, courage fascinates me.

What do you think? Where does it come from? How have you been tested lately?