The first word:

Courage is not the absence of fear but it’s taking action in the midst of it.
Dictionary.com says: Courage is:
The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, without fear. bravery.
to take ones courage in both hands to nerve oneself to perform an action.
Courage is an action word.
When I first began my journey into recovery I didn’t know what to expect and was not sure who to see or how to navigate through the unknowns.
There came a point in time when the realization came to me if I didn’t do something, nothing would take place and nothing would change the way I was feeling.
So I began to ask questions.
I searched and interviewed well known counselors.
To admit to yourself or anyone else that one needs counseling takes courage.
A lot of it.
Emotionally I knew and was convinced something had to be done.
The journey of healing with a lady counselor began the day she asked me, “why are you in here today?”
That is when you find courage and truth deep within yourself before you answer.
As time moves on you become more brave in finding your voice and 
you become stronger each time you go in to talk.
“You gain strength, courage and confidence
by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.
You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror.
I can take the next thing that comes along.’
Eleanor Roosevelt
Courage is not an easy word but
when we finally become real with ourselves we find healing.
Courage doesn’t always roar.
Sometimes it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying,
“I will try again tomorrow.”   
And each time I tried and took action to heal
the tomorrows became easier and the pain lessened.
Becoming real with ourselves is a huge part of having courage.