Wrangler Dani

Writer, editor, wife, adoptive mama and cowgirl living in beautiful Central Oregon.

What puts the Ape in Apricot?

Cowardly Lion: 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?
All: Courage!
Cowardly Lion: You can say that again! Huh?

I’ve been thinking a lot about courage lately, since finding this lovely blog devoted to it: Incourage

And I’ve decided that I’ve been thinking about courage all wrong. It’s not one thing, like being tidy or Facing Down Very Bad Things in Large and Courageous Ways. It’s about every little decision I make, every tiny movement toward courage or fear.

As an introvert, it takes courage to extend friendship and trust that it will be returned.

As a writer, it takes courage to believe that I can get published, that all these countless “gigs” will one day add up to something.

As a teacher, it takes courage to study for certification and care about helping my kids learn to ride.

As a wife, a friend, a daughter, a human, it takes courage to love deeply.

As a person, I am shaped by either courage or its absence.

After all, who wants to be a “ricot”?

7 comments found

  1. It’s so simple sometimes, it just makes you want to weep and laugh and do a little dance and maybe punch a pillow or two.

    After all, being alive is hard enough sometimes. Then there’s being alive with other people. All in all, courage isn’t just something to keep in your back pocket for days when you find yourself toeing cliffs, but for the everyday dailiness of working to sojourn on with God and others. Weeping and dancing with others. For screaming sometimes too, but only when it really, really, really doesn’t make sense.

    Mm. Courage is for everyday.

  2. I love this. And you’re right. It does take courage to live, to be awake to possibilities, to be open to love and joy and even pain and frustration. It takes courage to write and dance and travel and teach and make friends and really live.

    And you, my dear, are a courageous spirit, not to mention a fantastic writer. 🙂 Love you.

  3. What a great post! I think you’ve got much more courage than you give yourself credit for. You’re pretty awesome!

    Love you.

  4. very sweet post Dani. Some times we take for granted the virtue that God instills into our character and into our lives. It’s important to recognize the love and courage and faith and joy that are an often forgotten element of our daily journey.

  5. I love your perspective that courage isn’t “just one thing” but rather many…and I so agree. I, too, am an introvert and reaching out scares me silly, yet is seems to be the risk with the most rewards. Thanks for this great post! So glad to be (in) with you!

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