Courage: The Risks You Take Shape Who You BecomeCourage: The Risks You Take Shape Who You Become
Mind & Spirit

Courage: The Risks You Take Shape Who You Become

Discover why courage isn’t about fearlessness—it’s about taking meaningful action despite fear.
Virtue Medicine
Part 7
Illustration by Fei Meng.
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An eight-year-old boy sat quietly next to his six-year-old sister as she lay in a hospital room. She was dying of leukemia. Her only chance of survival was a blood transfusion. When doctors confirmed that the brother’s blood was a perfect match, they asked if he would donate a pint to save her life. After a night of thought, he agreed.

The next day, the siblings were connected to IVs, and the boy’s blood was transfused into the sister’s sickly body. Then, in the quiet that followed, the boy turned to the doctor and asked, “How soon until I start to die?”

And what’s the best way to cultivate it—embracing optimism or letting go of pessimism?
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