“The secret to happiness is freedom… And the secret to freedom is courage.”
(Thucydides[1])
Character Day is a free, online event held across the entire globe. It features experts in the field of character education, engaging schools, corporations, universities, civic and other groups in deep conversation about the importance of character development. Participants receive access to award-winning films, conversation starter kits, a comprehensive online resource hub, and a mobile app that includes over 5,000 pieces of curated content focused on the importance of character development, which supports participants in creating and hosting their own Character Day events.
Character Day is becoming a global phenomenon. Last year, there were 93,000 unique events held in 125 countries, including all 50 states in the U.S… with every event focused on a single, simple theme: developing character strengths.
At Happy Living, we believe every day is Character Day. In our modern day social media world, that belief can be conveyed as a hashtag, of course: #EDICD. I think that sounds like “edict,” don’t you?
I looked the word up to make sure I understood what it meant. One definition read, “If your mom orders you to clean your room, that’s an order. If the king asks you to do it, that’s an edict — an official order from some higher up.” Of course, we have no authority over you or anyone else, but we do proclaim for ourselves: every day is Character Day. And we write, a lot, to inspire others to live that edict too.
Since we launched Happy Living in 2014, even before I heard of Character Day, we have been writing about the character strengths of wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance and transcendence. Today, we are celebrating the virtue of courage. A quick search on our website for “courage” returned no less than seventy-two different posts! Another search for “enthusiasm,” a strength listed under the category of courage, returned fifteen.
Here are excerpts from a few of my favorite Happy Living posts about courage.
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Teaching Courage to Children
What I Have Learned… So Far – About Fear
Risking something you depend on (like your job) is scary. I had plenty of fear when I realized taking my stand could cost me my job, and it was even scarier when I got fired. But I had cultivated this life lesson teaching my children to act, even in the face their fears because it was unlikely they’d be eaten, even in the worst possible outcome.
Learning Courage from Children
Today’s video features Sami, a 14-year-old girl with cancer. She loved being with her dad watching the Carolina Panthers before she lost him to cancer. Before he passed away, Sami was diagnosed with cancer too. Her love of the Panthers will make you smile, her love of her family will melt your heart and her faith gives her an ‘inner-strength’ that will astound you as it does her older brother Mike. He says of Sami, “She really is my hero. It’s amazing what she is doing.”
The Courage to Create a Nation
I found the sheer majesty of the presidential monuments truly moving. In their presence, I was struck by the dedication and courage of our Founding Fathers, who risked everything in their fight for our freedom. I stood before President Lincoln, walked through the World War II and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, and I was filled with such gratitude for the millions of men and women who had fought in wars to protect our freedom. Seeing the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Supreme Court up close is to witness the brilliance of our Founders, who established a unique form of government designed to maintain and ensure our freedom. In my exploration of my Country’s incredible capitol city, I realized that freedom comes before everything I hold dear.
The Courage to Challenge Inequality
Badass Ladies Blazing the Path to Gender Equality
It takes an abundance of courage to be a trailblazer. It takes an abundance of inner drive to fight against the enormous gravitational forces of cultural norms and expectations. Blazing the path to true equality takes women of significance, bravely following their hearts and doing the work they are meant to do… no matter what outside forces may have to say.
This is part two in my series leading up to Character Day 2017, which is scheduled for September 13. In part one, I explored my favorite posts about Wisdom. Up next is Humanity.
Take One More Click to join our free online Character Day Workshop designed to bring positive character changes to your life.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thucydides
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