The Courage Inside

Everyday, although we probably don't notice it, we act boldly and show inner courage. Even in tiny little things, such as going to a different place for lunch. Although you might think "That isn't bravery," it is! By trying new things and taking possible risks, we show acts of courage that strengthen our character and make us more dynamic. I think that J.R.R. Tolkien was explaining this to his readers with The Hobbit.

The Hobbit is about a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who lives in a peaceful community known as the Shire. In the Shire, no one likes risks or adventures, and everyday life is simple and quiet, if not a bit boring. One day, a wizard named Gandalf comes to his house and invites him to join an adventure. As you might expect, Bilbo is quite surprised and at a loss of words. Bilbo finally refuses and Gandalf leaves, but not before he leaves a strange mark on Bilbo's door. Later that evening, an unexpected troupe of dwarves arrives at Bilbo's house, apparently led there by the aforementioned mark. They try to get Bilbo to sign a paper saying that he will be part of their adventure, but he refuses. The next morning, all the dwarves have left and Bilbo realizes he's made a mistake by not joining. He finds the paper, signs it, and runs after the dwarves. Ok, now we fast forward a few chapters. Bilbo is alone in a dark cave with Gollum, who is hoping to eat him. Bilbo is absolutely terrified, but in a last attempt for his life, he asks Gollum to play a game of riddles. If Bilbo wins, Gollum shows him the way out, and if Gollum wins, he gets to eat Bilbo. These two acts of bravery are Tolkien's way of telling us that we have a lot of boldness inside of us, no matter how shy or frail we may seem.

I think Tolkien is completely right. Every person in the world has a brave side, and we all make life-changing decisions everyday, even if we don't think it.  Every choice we make has a strong impact on our lifestyle, and changing the way you are is a bold and important thing to do. I think that knowing this is very important, as something could pop up in which your "survival" is teetering. Someone could bully you, or someone could try to make you do the wrong thing (just say no!), such as taking drugs. If we are aware that we are not weak, that we have courage, we can stand up to such threats! No matter how weak we think we are, we all have a strong courage inside that will allow us to emerge from bad situations safely.