Life is much more fulfilling when it's lived courageously- I bought this key for myself at the beginning of the year, determined to not let fear control my life anymore. 2014 was one of the hardest years of my life. My mom was undergoing cancer treatments and college/life in general was incredibly stressful. I wanted 2015 to be a different kind of year for me. I wanted to be courageous and press on despite the challenges life threw at me. My COURAGE key was a daily reminder for me. I wore it every day, because I didn't know when I would meet the right person to pass it on to. After graduating college this May, I took a trip to Alaska to visit my aunt and cousin. My uncle was tragically killed in a hit and run collision while on a routine bike ride last summer, and the last year has been an extremely difficult time for my aunt and cousin. After my first day in Alaska, I felt like it was time to pass my key onto someone who shows courage every day she gets up and carries on with life: my cousin. Losing her dad, her best friend, so suddenly, tore her world apart. Her strength and courage inspires me, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of my key. I thought it would be much harder to give my key up since it meant so much to me, but when you give it to the right person, you feel happiness rather than sadness. I waited until the end of my trip, gave her my key, and told her how much her courage inspires me. She teared up, and I knew it meant a lot to her. I hope every day she wears it, it will remind her of the incredible courage she possesses.
