someone on the radio was talking about the difference between courage and fearlessness. since i was listening while driving, i was only half-attentive and i wish the other half of me could listen to the other half of his explanation because when i think about it, i’m not sure of the distinctions.

actually it’s coming back to me somewhat. i think this was canadian radio show and the host was interviewing a boxer, probably a boxer with a newly published book. if i understood correctly, the boxer was explaining that fearlessness allowed him to face an opponent in the boxing ring. but it took courage to ask a boss for a raise or to ask somebody out on a date. i was hoping the interviewer would ask whether it took courage or fearlessness to ask a boss out on a date (which may or may not lead to a raise). and what about boxing with a date? what would that entail?

i guess i am confused. whenever i ask my friends who used to live around here but who now inhabit the sky…  whenever i ask them for courage, i usually pair it with a request for fearlessness. up until 8:45 tonight, i had always thought they were one and the same.

but i think this boxer would tell me that courage is not about fearlessness at all. it’s more about working with and through fears.

so now that makes perfect sense.

thanks for reading as i tried to sort that one out.