The key to change... is to let go of fear.

Courage-the ability to do something that frightens one. Now that's what I call a dictionary definition. My way of looking at courage is like a hallway. During that hallway, you must make some choices you don't want to make, but this hallway leads to a whole, new and changed life. Some choices you make may be about your fears. Most people think being courageous is having the guts to do something that frightens them or even fears them, and that's their definition. Not everyone's definition is the same. Now I will tell you how a single trip to Malacca changed my whole life and how it made me a more matured person. 

    

     In 5th grade, there was an overnight trip to Malacca on this famous city's spices and food that they have. I, for one, thought it was exciting to go on an overnight trip with my friends because I haven't gone on a trip to another city before, but then I thought about my fears. I have TONS of fears! 1)I hate being alone 2) Don't really like bugs 3) DISGUSTED by wet and dirty floors and 4) REALLY scared from animals (FYI: Please don't laugh!). This trip involved 2 of my fears: being alone, and bugs. You see, I haven't really 'pulled away' from my parents yet so I sleep next to them in my own bed and hold my dad's hand when I sleep because I'm also scared of robbers and thieves and those kinds of people. Anyway, bugs also interfere into the trip because I wasn't sure if the hotel was clean or not. So basically, this trip was about me having the choice to be afraid my fears or to have the courage to overcome my fears.

     As I dried my hair after a nice hot shower and a whole day of sweating, I thought to myself, "Okay Nadia, you survived a whole day without Mommy and Daddy. I think you can survive 10 hours without Daddy holding your hand." I suddenly heard a vibrating sound and thought it was someone outside our hotel room door. I thought that because our room was right next to the open loading zone. VERY FREAKY! It was actually my mom texting good night. I replied with a good night and gripped my phone in my hand. Suddenly a lightbulb lit up in my head. I quickly my bed's pillow and put it on the other side of the bed. No bugs tonight! But I didn't have the courage to leave my pillow where it was. I didn't have the courage to overcome my fear of bugs. I climbed into bed and fell on my pillow. Melodie also fell on her bed and she slept straight away. I didn't know that but after 5 minutes after 10 I heard a faint snoring sound. I started to giggle very softly and closed my eyes. I just couldn't fall asleep without a verbal, "Good Night!". 

     *BRING BRING* I heard my alarm ring. It turns out I actually did fall asleep! I have finally overcome my fear of being alone! YAHOO! What an achievement :) I woke up and ran to the other bed and woke Melodie up and checked my watch. It was 7:00. We were only supposed to wake up at 9:00 I think. So Melodie and I just sat in bed and played one of my phone's games. I not only overcame my fear but also woke up earlier than I could ever can!

     Courage. Everyone deals with it and everyone can use it in anyway they want to. My definition of courage is having the guts to do what you think is the right choice. What's your definition of courage?

Cheers,

Nadia

Sources:

Quote-http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the-key-to-change-is-to-let-go-of-fear/391151.html
Hallway-http://www.principiadiscordia.com/Adventure/images/5/57/Hallway.jpg
Malacca-http://www.hot-screensaver.com/wp-myimages/malacca-a-famosa.jpg
Lightbulb-http://www.hostsaga.com/images/lightbulb.gif
Yahoo-http://www.ewellnessmall.com/online-health-store/resources/fck_images/yahoo-logo.jpg
Courage-http://www.ci.boca-raton.fl.us/city/hr/Motiv-Poster/winners/1courage_sm.jpg