In American Sign Language, the sign for courage implies strength that comes from the body, with both finger-spread hands beginning at the chest and moving out to form the letter ‘s’ for strength. The sign is similar in British Sign Language. What is it about courage that has to come from within? And where within does it come from? What is interesting is that the sign for ‘fear’ in British Sign Language uses the same finger-spread hand and touches the chest. It is as if to imply that the difference between fear and courage is whether what is in you comes to the fore or not. It occurs to me that courage comes from the same place as fear, and where there is fear there is the possibility of courage.
From In the Shelter; Finding a Home in the World. By Padraig O'Tuama