For those of you who don't remember this joyous show from the early 2000s, Courage the Cowardly Dog was a (questionable) kid’s show, detailing the adventures of a dog named Courage, who is afraid of everything (hence "the Cowardly Dog." Amazing how that works).
He lives in the middle of nowhere with his owners: Eustace, the greedy, self-centered, grouchy farmer and Muriel, the loving and too-sweet-for-her-own-good wife. Muriel is the benevolent caregiver to Courage, treating him almost like a son (sounds weird, but if you watch it, it’s true). Eustace, on the other hand, purposefully tries to terrify Courage, actively displaying his dislike for him.
Courage encounters many fantastic and frightening events that threaten his way of life. He is repeatedly forced with a decision to either solve the problems that arise or be overrun by them. While growing up, this show seemed to be purely scary entertainment; reflecting on it now, however, I find 8 life lessons that Courage was teaching me along.
1. Sometimes you have to conquer your fears.
Courage is absolutely terrified of everything. So when something actually frightening does happen, Courage’s fear is to the max. Yet when terrifying events occur that threaten his owners, who are like his family, no amount of fear will stop Courage from saving them. His name is much more meaningful than it first appears: he is Courage not because he is never afraid, but because he never lets fear stop him.
2. Fear isn’t a bad thing.
Even though Courage’s fear is often something that must be overcome, it is not always a hindrance. Often times, Courage’s instincts are correct when he fears something new or abnormal — fear, in healthy doses, can be self-preserving and helpful.
3. You’ll do whatever you can for the people you love.
The only reason Courage feels the need to overcome his fear is because of his love for Muriel (and tolerance for Eustace). No amount of fear, pain or difficulty is going to stop Courage from doing whatever he can for the ones he loves and cares about.
4. Do good to people, even if they don’t deserve it.
Even though Courage probably couldn’t care less for Eustace and his ill-treatment, that doesn’t stop Courage from still trying to save him whenever something goes wrong.
5. You’re capable of more than you realize.
When Courage over comes his fears, he accomplishes incredible feats. Of course many of his actions are dramatized, being a cartoon, but this doesn’t change the basic message: you're able to do more than you can imagine when you set your mind to it.
6. Never give up.
Courage rarely succeeds in his first attempts at saving himself and his owners from danger, but that doesn’t stop him from continuing to try. The only reason he ever succeeds is because he keeps trying.
7. Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Courage is a small, un-intimidating dog who is often overlooked as being dangerous. Yet, he is always the one who comes to the rescue.
8. Life is weird.
In every episode, the most extreme and strange is the norm. In everyday life, we find plenty of examples of crazy and strange events. The most we can do is just embrace the weirdness of life and await the next event.
