In his book, The Lakota Way, Joseph M. Marshall III describes bravery as “Facing the possibility, and sometimes the probability, of death and great bodily harm as without a doubt one of the most daunting realities any human being can confront.” Bravery was essential to the survival of the early people of the Lakota Nation. It takes bravery even today to trek through life and to be successful. There are many ways for people to be brave today. Of the twelve Lakota virtues described by Marshall, bravery was most important in the survival of his people. Bravery was essential to the survival of the early people of the Lakota Nation. Young Lakota men were compelled to be brave; they were the natural enemies of the Cree and Crow as well as many of …show more content…
To be brave you could try sharing your thoughts and opinions or preaching what’s in your heart. It takes bravery to step out of your comfort zone; you make miscalculations and mistakes along the way and must learn the lessons they offer. Things like letting the past be the past and being able to follow your heart take as much bravery as standing up to the school bully or rushing into a burning building. There are copious ways to be brave in this world; you can stop a gunman or talk to a girl you like. The most important thing to remember is, bravery is not the absence of fear. In conclusion, of the twelve Lakota virtues described by Marshall, bravery was the most important virtue in the survival of his people. Marshall wrote “honor should be accepted with humility,” “each step we take is a lesson in perseverance,” and “Bravery, however, needs to be taken in context because life demands it in so many ways.” Some virtues are not practiced all the time, but bravery is something you need to use every day of your life. One of the most daunting things any human can confront is facing death, or great bodily harm, but with bravery these things can be