We’ve reached October! The autumn season is here, leaves are falling off trees and there are pumpkins everywhere. October is also a month of frights, with Halloween closing the month off. Whether you celebrate it or not, we think it’s a great time to discuss the value of courage and bravery.

How can you overcome your fears? What does courage look like for you? How can you provide reassurance and demonstrate bravery for your children?

Allen Land, father and Prime driver of 10 years, says courage involves a lot of perseverance and doing the right thing. Through personal anecdotes and advice, we hope you learn a little something on the value of courage during “spooky season!”

Courage can dictate our actions

When you think about the word “courage,” what comes to mind? For Allen, courage is “having the ability to accomplish tasks, even though you’re afraid, and even when you think the task isn’t possible.”

He says having courage is important, especially when it comes to going with your gut.

“You’re making sure that you’re safe, and sometimes things can get scary,” he admitted. “If your skill allows you to do it, you have to have the courage and trust your abilities to do something, even if you haven’t done it before.”

When it comes to parenting, Allen says standing up for what you believe and doing the right thing takes a lot of courage.

“Don’t let others dictate how you parent and have the courage to parent the way you think is appropriate and right,” he said.

Taking the easy way out is the opposite of courageous. Going with your gut and having faith in yourself does wonders for your courage.

Courage comes in different forms

For examples of a courageous person, Allen referenced veterans, firefighters, police officers and first responders, saying they demonstrate courage every day. He also mentioned people who are often overlooked for their bravery: parents who struggle to make ends meet but keep on keeping on.

“(There’s) courage in every little thing people do, some people just don’t realize it,” Allen said.

Allen also used his wife as an example of courage and perseverance.

“I admire her more than a lot of people,” he said.

Parents everywhere—over-the-road fathers in particular—demonstrate courage every day. As many Prime fathers have said in the past, the transition to become either a parent or a driver involves stepping into the unknown, something that involves a lot of courage. It comes in many different forms, and recognizing your journey and how far you’ve come can help demonstrate how courageous you actually are.

Overcoming your fears helps your children overcome theirs

Like many over-the-road dads, some of Allen’s fears and concerns include providing for his family. In the trucking industry, it can be hard to stay healthy, and one of Allen’s worries was being healthy enough to survive and thrive for his family.

To overcome this fear, Allen joined Prime’s Drivers Health and Fitness program, losing weight through the exercises and food eating habits he learned. His wife is on board and started a health journey of her own.

Allen’s oldest daughter recently had a baby, and according to him, they’re “happy and healthy.” He says it’s affirming to step back and see the progress he’s made and the example he’s made with healthy habits.

Additionally, Allen’s children know they can talk to him and ask him for help if they need it. Ensuring they’re healthy, happy and thriving is important to him.

“I’m not there to judge, I’m there to support them,” he said.

When you think about it this way, being fit and healthy at every stage in life is certainly an act of courage! By setting a good example and providing support for his family through overcoming fears and obstacles, Allen has found his family, in turn, is more inclined to make leaps in their lives.

Final Words

For Allen, setting an example for his family and noticing small examples of courage every day helps him appreciate and value it even more. According to him, it takes courage for over-the-road drivers to stay out on the road. He suggests starting small, breaking it down, and working your way up.

You have to keep working and looking at the goal,” he said. “A lot of it is conversations you have with your kids. Even if it scares you, if it’s the right thing to do, just do it.”