Courage emulates itself in a variety of different forms, most notably through one’s attempts to face situations one would otherwise be too afraid to get into.
Entering my first week at Fairmont Summer Programs this week I was a tad bit nervous (although not really). Though used to working with an older group of students, I quickly learned names and faces of many of the students within my group. I broke the ice most of the time starting conversations with random strangers, something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do had I been in the kids’ situation. As an authority figure I tried to maintain a calm demeanor while at the same time not being afraid to call out kids on certain inappropriate behaviors. Tackling a field trip on the first week was relatively easy, mostly because it was in a close confined space. I’m positive things will get more tricky once the amount of kids double and the field trips are in a more open space (such as Knott’s). Wearing Snoopy socks was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I guess that’s a part of being courageous – doing things that are outside of what one would consider “ordinary”. I really do like my coworkers though!
I was also placed in a relatively terrible situation this week because of the auto-accident that occurred last week. When the person that rear ended me’s insurance company called, they said his insurance was expired, and that I would have to pursue other means by which to get money. I quickly researched various mechanisms by which to do so. If I knew his exact address I would literally drive down and confront Jose Luis Lopez and demand my money. Instead, I settled for filing a police report with his license plate number while also sending angry letters to multiple addresses he could possibly reside at. Here’s an excerpt of said angry letter “This will be your only chance to settle this matter before I file suit against you in Small Claims Court. I am agreeable to a lump sum payment, or to a payment plan. Please contact me on or before June 30, 2013 for purposes of settling this matter. If I do not hear from you on or before June 30, 2013, I will file a lawsuit against you without further notice. It is in your best interest to settle this matter before a lawsuit is filed. If a judgment is obtained against you, it will negatively affect your ability to get credit, you will be ordered to pay court costs, and you will incur interest at a rate of 10% per annum.” If I don’t get money I’ll either have to file a small claim or pursue other courageous methods. I have included a picture of my car below for you to assess the damage.
Despite those two situations I didn’t have many other opportunities to show or exemplify degrees of courage. Perhaps I’ll conquer my fear of rollercoasters in a few weeks at Knott’s. Doubtful though :). I give myself a C for the week.
I end with a poem by Rudyard Kipling;
IF you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:If you can dream - and not make dreams your master; If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Next Week: Self-Discipline
