In our lives, we have two or three opportunities to be a hero, but almost every day, we have the opportunity not to be a coward.

- Spanish proverb

This proverb is so true....as well as the saying "A coward dies a 1,000 deaths". Something like that.

My religion, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, involves getting past my fears. And certainly attempting a whole-life makeover is not for sissies.

Well, I wasn't always a coward. As a kid I was more daring than just about anybody. If it was bold or life-threatening, I was the one who would try it. I'm not sure exactly when that changed. It manifested itself during my 14 yr marriage to an abusive man who enjoyed making me feel small and worthless. I emerged from that relationship with a host of fears. But, being one of Jehovah's Witnesses was not one them. I found courage through God's Holy Spirit. After the initial knock on the door, fear fled from me. I was not accomplishing that monumental task under my own strength and I have always known that.

The fears that have haunted me have always been in regard to interacting with groups of people and my self-worth. My reduced self-esteem caused me to fear trying new things, especially things that involved me in a personal way. I had to overcome fear when I returned to school for retraining purposes. I also overcame fear to build a new relationship with a new mate, one who by the way, treats me like a treasure. I have also had to overcome the fear of failure. I have tried many diets in my life and I have always failed to maintain the weight loss and physical fitness for any length of time.

But after pondering the concept of cowardice, I have come to the realization that a coward is the one who doesn't try to go beyond the fear, but just remains there. I do not think of myself as a coward anymore because I have overcome a host of obstacles in my life. I have gone right through the fear and have reaped the rewards. I am determined to make my current journey to fitness to be the means to an end, not just the end of my efforts.