Thought on strength and courage

A lot of people read books on how to win friends and manipulate people. Others go looking for someone to protect them from the world. Still others spend their days dodging contact with others, keeping them at arms length (me). I suppose those methods work short-term, but when it comes down to brass tacks, I'm pretty sure that the only thing that will really help me manage the stress of daily life is trusting in myself, and understanding that each encounter with the 'other' strengthens me, even the encounters it seems I have 'lost'.

It takes courage to be 100% there in each moment, and to respond honestly and openly when there are no guarantees as to outcomes. It takes courage to approach life that way, and I'm a coward. I admit it. But courage expands with use, they say, and if it isn't used, it withers away. I know I am stronger than I think, but its hard, when I've been in the habit of not taking chances for a long time (even chances on people who are reaching out to me) to extend a hand to others. I'm trying to find the courage to fully experience the other person, and to hear with an open heart what is being said to me (open mind has never been a problem), and to speak my truths back to others with candor and compassion.