Courage Under Fire
http://www.setthestageforsuccess.com/articles/8215/1/Courage-Under-Fire/Page1.html
Stephen Hopson
A former award-winning Wall Street stockbroker turned speaker, author and the first deaf pilot in the world to earn an instrument rating; Stephen Hopson teaches others how to transform adversity into success. www.sjhopson.com and www.adversityuniversityblog.comBy Stephen Hopson
Published on 06/16/2008
... continued from "The Power of Three Words"
Ten minutes into lunch recess, I saw David, the class bully, sauntering toward me with a cocky swagger, his lips curved into an Elvis Presley sneer. He was a spitting image of “The Fonz” from Happy Days, with greasy black hair combed straight back, 1950s style. He always wore a gleaming white T-shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in one, sometimes both, sleeves. Like Fonzie, David did his best to strut his tough-guy image. Up to that point, he had literally beaten up everybody in the whole school, except for me. Not that I was tough or anything, but for some reason he had left me alone until that day.
Ten minutes into lunch recess, I saw David, the class bully, sauntering toward me with a cocky swagger, his lips curved into an Elvis Presley sneer. He was a spitting image of “The Fonz” from Happy Days, with greasy black hair combed straight back, 1950s style. He always wore a gleaming white T-shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in one, sometimes both, sleeves. Like Fonzie, David did his best to strut his tough-guy image. Up to that point, he had literally beaten up everybody in the whole school, except for me. Not that I was tough or anything, but for some reason he had left me alone until that day.
Ten minutes into lunch recess, I saw David, the class bully, sauntering toward me with a cocky swagger, his lips curved into an Elvis Presley sneer. He was a spitting image of “The Fonz” from Happy Days, with greasy black hair combed straight back, 1950s style. He always wore a gleaming white T-shirt with a pack of cigarettes rolled up in one, sometimes both, sleeves. Like Fonzie, David did his best to strut his tough-guy image. Up to that point, he had literally beaten up everybody in the whole school, except for me. Not that I was tough or anything, but for some reason he had left me alone until that day.
My time has come, I remember thinking. My body went rigid. With steady eyes, I watched him. The other kids quickly formed a circle around me like a bunch of boxing spectators at Madison Square Garden. They left just enough of an opening for David to make his entrance.
As soon he was in, the circle closed immediately. It was almost as if the other kids didn't want to let either of us escape without first seeing some action. My heart quickened with each step he took. Nervously licking my lips, I had no idea what I was going to do.
My eyes gradually met his. Suddenly, as if some unseen force had taken over, I shoved my right palm up, like a traffic cop. Thrown off guard, David slowed to a crawl. I licked my lips some more, trying to muster up my courage. In the next instant, my life was forever changed.
Dripping with sarcasm, I pointed to my chest and said, "Kid, do you see this hearing aid box?"
The bully snickered and cackled like the cruel witch in “The Wizard of Oz.” His eyes briefly flickered in fear, but no one else saw that except me. It gave me an unexpected boost in confidence.
I raised my voice an octave and screamed, “IF YOU PUNCH THIS BOX, IT'LL BLOW UP THE WHOLE SCHOOL!” My hands clapped like thunder, startling the bully. (Good thing this happened in the 70's because in this day and age, the principal would have thrown me in the slammer.)
His face immediately turned paper-white. His eyes widened in fear and he slowly backed away. As if on cue, the circle magically opened behind him. Then he did something that forever ruined his rough-and-tumble image. The bully ran home as fast as his little legs could carry him!
Folding my skinny arms across my chest and I triumphantly watched the bully grow smaller and smaller. Then I looked around. The other kids were laughing, clapping and whooping while others vigorously rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Wow! Did I just defeat the bully?
Instantly I was transformed into the most popular kid in the whole school. Everyone wanted to be my friend after that!
Sometimes we find out that we do have courage when we’re put to the test. We never want this to happen but when it does, we become stronger if we face it with courage. Not only that but you never know when the words you speak to someone will make a real difference in that person’s life, in the same way that Mrs. Jordan’s words did for me.
My time has come, I remember thinking. My body went rigid. With steady eyes, I watched him. The other kids quickly formed a circle around me like a bunch of boxing spectators at Madison Square Garden. They left just enough of an opening for David to make his entrance.
As soon he was in, the circle closed immediately. It was almost as if the other kids didn't want to let either of us escape without first seeing some action. My heart quickened with each step he took. Nervously licking my lips, I had no idea what I was going to do.
My eyes gradually met his. Suddenly, as if some unseen force had taken over, I shoved my right palm up, like a traffic cop. Thrown off guard, David slowed to a crawl. I licked my lips some more, trying to muster up my courage. In the next instant, my life was forever changed.
Dripping with sarcasm, I pointed to my chest and said, "Kid, do you see this hearing aid box?"
The bully snickered and cackled like the cruel witch in “The Wizard of Oz.” His eyes briefly flickered in fear, but no one else saw that except me. It gave me an unexpected boost in confidence.
I raised my voice an octave and screamed, “IF YOU PUNCH THIS BOX, IT'LL BLOW UP THE WHOLE SCHOOL!” My hands clapped like thunder, startling the bully. (Good thing this happened in the 70's because in this day and age, the principal would have thrown me in the slammer.)
His face immediately turned paper-white. His eyes widened in fear and he slowly backed away. As if on cue, the circle magically opened behind him. Then he did something that forever ruined his rough-and-tumble image. The bully ran home as fast as his little legs could carry him!
Folding my skinny arms across my chest and I triumphantly watched the bully grow smaller and smaller. Then I looked around. The other kids were laughing, clapping and whooping while others vigorously rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
Wow! Did I just defeat the bully?
Instantly I was transformed into the most popular kid in the whole school. Everyone wanted to be my friend after that!
Sometimes we find out that we do have courage when we’re put to the test. We never want this to happen but when it does, we become stronger if we face it with courage. Not only that but you never know when the words you speak to someone will make a real difference in that person’s life, in the same way that Mrs. Jordan’s words did for me.