I heard a snippet of this song during the season premiere of The Biggest Loser. After hearing the words, I went online to find the song and lyrics. It’s by a group called The Strange Familiar. I love this song.

I think part of why this song struck such a chord with me (pardon the pun) is due to the fact that I’m going through a pretty stressful situation right now regarding my biological family. Without going into all of the gory details here, I’ve basically chosen to estrange myself completely from them due to the fact that they refuse to acknowledge abuse I suffered as I child by another member of the family. Naturally, I’ve been extremely emotional for the past several days, and then getting the flu on top of that surely didn’t help matters.

I’ve finally reached a point in my life where I’m done with settling for the sloppy seconds I get from my family. I’ve come to realize my family is likely never going to change, and I recognize that I can’t change them no matter how much I crave a relationship with them. I can only change myself, and part of that change is realizing that I deserve better than the shitty treatment I receive from them.

I guess what this all boils down to is that this song came along at just the right time for me. It came at a time I really needed to hear the message of its lyrics. Moving forward, I just need to remember this song and these lyrics during those times I feel defeated. With time and courage, I’ll keep on living, loving, and giving anyway.

Courage Is …

Take all my viscious words and turn them into something good
Take all my preconceptions and let the truth be understood
Take all my prized possessions leave only what I need
Take all my pieces of doubt and let me be what’s underneath

Courage is when you’re afraid but you keep on moving anyway
Courage is when you’re in pain but you keep on living anyway

We all have excuses why living in fear something in us dies
Like a bird with broken wings, its not how high he flies but the song he sings

Courage is when you’re afraid but you keep on moving anyway
Courage is when you’re in pain but you keep on living anyway
keep on living anyway

It’s not how many times you’ve been knocked down
It’s how many times you get back up

Courage is when you’ve lost your way but you found your strength anyway
Courage is when you’re afraid
Courage is when it all seems gray
Courage is when you make a change and you keep on living anyway

You keep on moving anyway
You keep on giving anyway
You keep on loving anyway