Courage

11 letters

I grew up preparing for the apocalypse. My childhood was defined by my father's fear—of nuclear war, economic collapse, the end of everything. At 16, I had to choose: follow him to a farm in the Australian outback, or stay and build the life I wanted despite the terror. These essays are about that choice. About taking the first step when every instinct screams to run. About beginning without a map, making decisions in the face of uncertainty, and learning that courage isn't the absence of fear—it's living past it. This is where my journey begins. Maybe it's where yours begins too.