Oh, I do like your 3-type system Michelle! I'm also a bit of a spectator/analyst myself. I believe the world needs us observers because many people who "make things happen" are not always the most self-aware lot. You and I hold up the mirror!
I'm old enough now to have a long history of situations that arose and my reactions to them to consult. Conclusions: I have a reckless disregard sometimes of danger and am the type to rush into burning buildings. I did that exact thing in the Army, except it wasn't a building that was burning but some low dry bush that had caught fire and a comrade was lying underneath the burning branches, so I rushed into the fire and choking smoke and dragged him out. Later, as a civilian again, I've foot-chased criminals, got between two fighters when one of them was down and getting kicked, so I rushed in and assaulted the kicker! Didn't get a medal for the first, nor a jail sentence for the second-. just a lasting conviction I did the right thing. and got lucky each time. So physical courage I guess I'm ok on. Moral courage and danger that is complex and not right in front of me... I'm a miserable failure. I bow to social pressures all too easily or adopt complacent, wait and see approaches.
This reminds me of that saying: There are people who make things happen, people who watch things happen and people who wonder what happened.
I tend to be like the cats in Animal Farm; I watch and listen a lot. Not much of a one for action. Oh dear...
Oh, I do like your 3-type system Michelle! I'm also a bit of a spectator/analyst myself. I believe the world needs us observers because many people who "make things happen" are not always the most self-aware lot. You and I hold up the mirror!
I'm old enough now to have a long history of situations that arose and my reactions to them to consult. Conclusions: I have a reckless disregard sometimes of danger and am the type to rush into burning buildings. I did that exact thing in the Army, except it wasn't a building that was burning but some low dry bush that had caught fire and a comrade was lying underneath the burning branches, so I rushed into the fire and choking smoke and dragged him out. Later, as a civilian again, I've foot-chased criminals, got between two fighters when one of them was down and getting kicked, so I rushed in and assaulted the kicker! Didn't get a medal for the first, nor a jail sentence for the second-. just a lasting conviction I did the right thing. and got lucky each time. So physical courage I guess I'm ok on. Moral courage and danger that is complex and not right in front of me... I'm a miserable failure. I bow to social pressures all too easily or adopt complacent, wait and see approaches.
That’s exactly the kind of reflective reply I was hoping to get to those questions Michael. Thank you for writing!
Thanks. For everything, Baird.
I should mention that that soldier was unconscious and was in real danger...me, less so.