Courage

What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! 

What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! 

What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk?

What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! 

What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! 

What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! 

What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the "ape" in apricot? 

What have they got that I ain't got? 

Courage.

Ever notice how some people in this world give you a shot of adrenaline just by being around?  They wake you up.  Shake you up.  Keep you on your toes.  Inspire you.  And, my favorite part, make you braver than you ever thought you could be.  I have friends like these.

There are days that I wake up and feel deflated and listless and proceed to beat myself up for every shortcoming and perceived inadequacy that I can concoct about myself.  On those days particularly (I believe Holly Golightly called it "the Mean Reds") I need a prescription for a good dose of ego-stroking friendship.

I'm actually a very shy person.  Not many people know (or believe) this about me because I try very hard to overcome it.  And I'm not afraid to speak in front of people.  I think that's where the misconception breeds from.  It's the social mingling, one-on-one introductions that throw my Chi into the blender.  I relish the thought of a world based on the TV series "Cheers" where everybody knows your name.  Wouldn't that be nice?  Except for the fact that I'm terrible with names.  But I digress...

I've noticed that when I'm with my particular friends, I feel like the world is my oyster.  That I infinitely belong and fit in.  So what's with all this insecurity when I fly solo?  I think it must be that when you're with your friends, you can trust that you'll have the acceptance of at least one person in the room.  You don't have to put on an act for them.  You can dance down the aisles of the grocery store to the Muzak version of David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and know that at least the person next to you is laughing WITH you.

As of late, I've had...well, not more instances of, but...more opportunities for this petrifying social stuff, and  I find myself avoiding it - opting out - instead of mustering up the courage to do this one simple act.  Say "Hello".  Nope.  Instead I'll just stay in at home, check Facebook one more time, read a book, watch something mind-numbing on the tube.  I'll schedule play dates with my friends, the ones that know and love me, but I'm putting off doing things I'm interested in trying for the lack of my safety net...and I know that's not right.  So, while I wish I could keep one of these brilliant friends in my back pocket at all times so I can reach in for reassurance, like a worry stone, I know in my head and my heart that all I really need to do is take a deep breath and step forward.

I need to ask the Wizard for some courage.