“There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.

But sometimes it doesn’t.

Sometimes it is nothing more than gritting your teeth through pain, and the work of every day, the slow walk toward a better life.

That is the sort of bravery I must have now.”

― Veronica Roth, Allegiant

Most of us don’t live our lives on the high wire – most of us aren’t cops, firefighters, soldiers, etc. (a big thank you to all of them!) risking our lives in daring fashion to save and protect those around us.

Most of us need the second kind of courage and bravery mentioned above.

The courage to stand up the day to day struggles to be a less selfish and more kind person.

The courage to stand up to a culture and peer pressures that can lead us away from our own values.

The courage to be the kind of husband, father, friend, coworker we’d really like to be.

Today, I’d like to encourage you to look for the little moments of courage and to be brave in those moments.

It might take all the courage you can muster to say “no” to that cupcake after lunch.

It might take all the courage you can muster to be kind to that person who doesn’t deserve it.

You can do it. You can push through. Even if just a little.

You can build your courage muscle. Little by little. Day by day.

Make it a great day.

Jake