Courage: born to obtain or learn to obtain?

When we were infants sleeping in our warm cradle, or toddlers trotting in cute small sneakers, do we obtain courage? To me, the answer is negative. Courage is not a certain aptitude to be born with; it is an ability that needs various experiences in life to learn and master. Perhaps you are visualizing “courageous” images of little kids playing with fire, running around roads with heavy traffic, or even teenagers riding motorcycles in a speed of wind—but no, that is not courage. That is called mischief and ignorance. Risking of your life is not more than making dangerous jokes and being irresponsible to yourself. If so, what is courage? Courage is a broad, complex concept. It includes of fortitude, consideration, patience, love, care, empathy, and taking actions. Such positive qualities cannot be obtained without time and experiences; therefore, the thinking of being courageous since birth is an unrealistic idea.

If courage is not something you can be born with, then can you develop it? Definitely. Ignorance is the first barrier toward a state of courage. However, as we grow up, we learn variety of knowledge that influences our decisions and choices. Gradually, we obtain the power of challenging ourselves through the process of learning and experience. That is how we develop our courage. Helen Keller is an example that developed intellectual, emotional and physical courage throughout her life. When Helen was younger, she was not a courageous girl. Because Helen faced deafness, blindness and the inability to talk, she was having a difficult life, along with her bad temper and negative attitude. Later in life, she met her teacher Miss. Sullivan. The teacher not only taught her how to read and write, she also guided the handicapped girl to feel and love the world. I think learning and being positive toward life is the first step in developing courage; without learning and being happy, Helen Keller would never have the courage to make her accomplishments. As you can see from many real life examples, courage doesn’t come with birth; it needs to be developed through your life.