Life Lesson #4: Of Anderson Hays Cooper

It is very easy for us to chicken out and say 'no' to someone out of fear. Be it fear of the unknown, fear of the known or just fear of messing-up, we often don't have the courage to face our fears.

I am not a brave person. In fact, I may very well be the most cowardly person anyone has ever met.

But there is someone I hold in very high esteem over his bravery.

His name is Anderson Hays Cooper. Better known as the primary anchor of CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, he now hosts an eponymous daytime talk show, Anderson.

He used to work as a live war-zone reporter. I was pretty impressed with his bravery at that time.

Now, there is more reason for me to admire his courage.

About a week ago, he posted an e-mail acknowledging that he was gay.

This was actually a well-known issue among society - but up till then, he had never openly acknowledged it and avoided talking about it.

He used to be afraid of admitting it. But he has spoken out now.

It may seem simple to type an e-mail, but it is never easy to highlight our own differences and insecurities.

We fear rejection and we only want acceptance. But we also know that this is very much wishful thinking.

A person once said that courage is not having no fear, but rather moving on despite knowing the fear.

To have fear is to be human. To face fear is to have courage.

Thanks to Anderson Cooper and many other people who have come clean about their differences, they've become a candle that illuminates the path for those seeking acceptance.

Courage is not something that is only bestowed upon special people - it is knowingly and willingly shown by ourselves. :)