Erica
courage
Choosing What Is Right
Erica is one of my true heroes.
In a time when so many people would choose safety or comfort over doing what they believed was right, I wanted Erica to be different.
She knows the difference between what is safe and what is right—and when she has to choose between the two, she chooses what is right.
Even when it places her own life at risk.
To me, that is courage.
The Times We Stay Silent
That made me think about my own life too.
How many times have I stayed quiet because I was afraid of offending someone?
How many times have I avoided saying what I really thought because I did not want an argument?
How many times have I known that something felt wrong, but convinced myself that it was easier to say nothing?
I think most of us have done that at some point.
We tell ourselves that staying quiet keeps the peace.
Sometimes it does.
But sometimes silence also protects the very thing we know is wrong.
Standing Against the Crowd
That is one of the reasons I created Erica the way I did. She is willing to be uncomfortable, and when necessary, she is even willing to risk her life for what she believes is right. She does not need everyone around her to agree with her before she makes that decision.
That kind of courage fascinates me because it is much harder in real life than it sounds. It is easy to feel brave when the people around you agree with you, support you, and reassure you that you are doing the right thing. It becomes much harder when speaking up may cost you friendships, approval, status, safety, or even your sense of belonging, especially when it means standing against the crowd.
Erica represents the kind of courage I think many of us wish we had more often. It is not the courage of someone who never feels fear, but the courage of someone who feels it, understands the possible consequences, and still refuses to let fear make the decision for her.
