B is for Bravery

B is for Bravery. For most bravery means a big muscled man who fights off the bad guys and wins along with a few scratches and bruises but hey it was worth the fight to win in the end. But to me bravery means something else. To me it means surviving the worst when life throws you a ton of lemons and you turn around and make lemonade. My life hasn’t been perfect but then whose life is? I have seen a lot of bravery in my life and I am so proud to call some of these people friends and family.

Who else but a brave person can face the news that they have a terminal illness and take it head on and sometimes survive or fight to the end? I know of one lady I used to work with that had cancer and is 79 years old and would come to work every day even after having chemo and having sores under her arms from the radiation. She never quit and kept going and she retired this past August and she is still going strong.

My cousin was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a child who is happy and healthy and went through all the chemo treatments and came out okay. I have a cousin who’s two year old daughter is now going through the effects of cancer and has lost her hair but every day she is strong and goes through the treatments and her family is behind her one hundred percent and I pray every day for the family that they will get this nipped in the bud.My mom had breast cancer and survived her surgery and goes on day by day and does what she can.  So to me these are brave people who have survived horrific instances but came through with a better sense of self.

I have friends who have stood beside me through thick and thin and I call them brave because they chose to be my friend and support me no matter what stupid things I might do. I have one who is going through a lot in their home life but they keep a positive attitude as much as they can for the sake of the children and is finding ways to correct their situation. To me that is bravery. 

Another friend of mine has been to hell and back and is still going strong and has relocated to another state and made a life for themselves and has come to start realizing their dream by working at a wonderful job and having been published and doing other things.

My third friend took a leap of faith and published their book and is working on another. That takes a lot of bravery in my opinion because not everyone is sure of the reaction they might receive from their blood, sweat and tears.

I also think that those who are in dangerous jobs are brave. Our fire fighters, police men and our military. Military members signed up to protect our country so that we can be free. And they, like the fire fighters and the police officers never know from day to day if they will be here to see their family. So thank you to all that have  served and are currently serving our country and to the brave men and women who go out every day to save our lives and our houses.

So to me bravery means facing the obstacles that our thrown our way and to take them with a grain of salt and realize that they are just little tests sent out by fate or God and they are watching to see how we handle the situation. I hope to one day be considered brave for all that I have accomplished but that is a long way in coming but I am proud to say that I know a lot of brave people in my life.