Only a fool is without fear. A true warrior knows and respects fear, but also strives to strike fear in the hearts of the dishonorable, the unjust, those who would use fear to oppress. Do not be fearless. Be fearsome.

Do not underestimate the soft spoken, the kind, the gentle. It takes strength to be those things, sometimes more than you will ever know. If you look closely at someone who conducts themselves honorably, you will find something fierce inside.

Kahless tells us that in the face of censors, of oppressors who would use your words against you even if true, you must speak out all the more loudly. All you do by silencing yourself voluntarily is save them the effort of silencing you.

Those without honor are almost always hypocrites, but do not think that exposing their hypocrisy will thwart them. Double standards are their weapons, wielded gleefully against those who attempt to maintain honor and fair play. Do not abandon your own principles, but know when your enemy has none.

You may find yourself in the company of those who act dishonorably, who bully or use words of hate and bigotry. A true warrior speaks out against this, seeks to correct it, but does not maintain such company. If you can't change those around you, change who's around you.

Do not avoid important tasks because they are inconvenient. That is an excuse, not a barrier. Momentary comfort should not outweigh doing what is right and necessary. Nothing worth having comes without effort.

// I collaborated with @auralnauts-craven.bsky.social to bring you this oddity. The concept is simple: a compilation of every act break from TNG Season 1. But it turned out to be weirdly compelling, and outright funny in places. Cue the dramatic music!

A polite bigot is a bigot nonetheless. A true warrior knows that courteous words do not dilute the poison, but only serve to conceal it until it has spread. Civility in the service of hate deserves no polite response.

Calls for civility are often weaponized by abusers, by bigots, by those who would oppress you. If it is considered impolite to speak out against dishonor, then it is time for a true warrior to be rude.

Do not allow words directed against you to become your burden. You have enough weight on your shoulders already -- don't let those who wish you ill encumber you with more.

// I collaborated with @auralnauts-craven.bsky.social to bring you this oddity. The concept is simple: a compilation of every act break from TNG Season 1. But it turned out to be weirdly compelling, and outright funny in places. Cue the dramatic music!

Let no one define who you are but you. Nobody else has standing. Your deeds and your glories may be seen by all, but only you can know the well inside you from which that water was drawn.

There are some who will tell you that empathy is tyranny, that equality is inequality, that oppression is freedom. See these for the lies they are, and know the liars for the enemies they are.

Nobody's journey is quite like yours, yet there are others who face the same challenges, fight in the same battles, struggle with the same foes. None are exactly like you, but there are some who can help you shoulder your burdens. You are unique, but you are not alone.

If you rush headlong toward the future, you may despair when your path veers away, even for a short time, from your goals. Be patient. It takes time for you to become who you will be.

Remember when the stars of the movie were also in the song *about* the movie? Here's two of my favorites smashed together into one cowboy/ghostbustin' epic.

Even the strongest among us feel weak at times. Even the smartest of us feel stupid at times. Even the most confident feel doubt. There is no shame in feeling that you are not always at your best. A true warrior feels these things, but strives for better. That way lies glory.

Remember that healing a wound does not always mean you are unchanged by it. But it is better to attempt to heal it, to let it change you, than to let it consume you and become you.

If hopelessness has made a home in your heart, it cannot be dislodged easily or all at once. Chip away at it with small victories, moments of hope and defiance. It is not easy and it will take time and effort, but strive to make it an uncomfortable home, a place where despair is no longer welcome.

Doing the right thing, making the right decision, can still fill you with regret and sadness. That does not make it any less right, but reminds you there may be a cost to doing the honorable thing. A true warrior accepts that hard decisions, like hard truths, can wound.

Despair, not fear, is the greater enemy. Fear can be overcome, but when you have lost all hope, you have already lost. A true warrior knows that the smallest thread can unravel the greatest tapestry. Find that thread, don't let it go, and persevere.

As much as we may wish to deny it, we are often motivated by fear more than anything else. It is a hard way to live. But true warriors pledge to meet those fears shoulder to shoulder, to stand against them together. In doing so, we are motivated against fear, not by it.

Kahless tells us that where your journey takes you is less important than who you are when you get there. Be true, warrior, and be glorious no matter your destination.

// TNG Season 1 was WAY weirder than you remember. By my brilliant friend @auralnauts-craven.bsky.social

// TNG Season 1 was WAY weirder than you remember. By my brilliant friend @auralnauts-craven.bsky.social

You are not a failure just because you failed at something. Nobody should be defined by their lowest point, though everyone feels that way sometimes. Let your failures help define what you will strive for, who you want to be, not who you are.

My involuntary term in our neighborhood HOA is over, finally!

You will commit an act of bravery tomorrow. It may seem small, maybe even insignificant to you. It may be that nobody but you ever knows it happened. But you will do something that requires you to push past your fears, and you will know it. That is no small thing. Celebrate it.

Failure, especially when you were certain you were in the right path, is demoralizing. But sometimes you must swallow your pride, take a step back, and abandon your original approach. Humility in the cause of a greater goal, overcoming your own stubbornness, is an act of profound courage.

There are limits to our time, our resources, our energy. Sometimes you may need to choose your battles, to take a break, to step back and regroup. But do not accept a limit on good deeds, kind words, or hope. The well of honor within you does not run dry.

There is more to you than others know. You have your internal struggles, your demons, your doubts. But you also have strengths, aspirations, pride in your accomplishments and what you are capable of. You do not need to prove it to anyone, but you are worthy.

Kahless tells us that loss is a bitter cup we all must drink from occasionally. The grief of loss is the other side of deep love. Love, no matter the pain later, is never wasted. When the pain of loss visits you, remember the love as well, so those departed will live on forever.

Life is not always fair, and there are many who will take advantage of this for their own benefit. Treat others fairly, but just as importantly, be willing to step in and balance the scales for the exploited. Life may not be fair, but a true warrior strives always to make it a bit more so.

The smallest act of defiance may be all it takes to bring forth the hidden courage inside of you. Snarl in the face of your fears, let them cower at what they've unleashed.

The ability to recognize the suffering of others and offer assistance is not only honorable, but it will serve you well in many situations, some unexpected. Compassion is a transferable skill.

As you strive for an honorable life, know that you will make mistakes, that you will stumble. So will everyone seeking to do the right thing. Honor is a path through the complex landscape of life, not a fence to keep out trespassers.

Kahless tells us that no one is without value, and no warrior should be called "unskilled." Hard work is a skill. Perseverance is a skill. Solidarity is a skill. A true warrior knows that all who live honorably are worthy, all have value, all are due respect.

Kahless tells us that someone who is lying to themselves can't be honest with you. Beware those whose confidence betrays their delusion, and strive to be honest with yourself. That way lies truth, if not glory.

Fear is like a monster in the dark. Shine a light on it, cast away the shadows, and its fangs grow shorter, its claws blunter, its power over you diminishes. Let your resolve be your light, and may you hold it high like the warrior you are.

It is natural to know despair in dark times, to feel dread and uncertainty. But do not immerse yourself in doom. Seek out joy and light, wherever you can find it, to keep despair from being the only feeling you have space for.

Do not be discouraged when you fail at something new. If it was easy, its value would be as low as the effort spent to obtain it. A true warrior knows that sometimes you have to work hard to make it look easy.

Even the bravest of us harbor secret fears. They gnaw at us, grow bigger and more frightening in the dark. If you are able, speak those fears. Drag them kicking and screaming into the light, and watch them wither in the glare.

The loudest voice is often the one you should listen to least. Words of hate, of bigotry, are meant to drown out reason and fairness, to sow confusion and hostility. Listen carefully, not to those who would oppress, but to those who speak against it. Even a whisper can be a roar of defiance.

Everyone may be entitled to their own opinion, but nobody is entitled to force theirs on you. While it is honorable to have an open mind, do not hesitate to close it —forcefully, if necessary— in the face of hatred, of bigotry, of dishonor.

The smallest acts may have oversized effects on someone's life. Over time, everyone will accumulate countless harsh words, hurtful experiences... but also small kindnesses, moments of support and inspiration. Live honorably, and fill the lives of those around you with the latter.

It is natural to feel despair in times of strife, in times of fear. Do not be ashamed of it, but do not give it a welcoming home, either. Show it the door before it becomes too entrenched. Replace it with resolve, however you can.

Do not live in constant fear of being wrong. Don't berate yourself for erring. You may regret past mistakes, but a true warrior knows that if you learn from them you may one day be grateful that you made them.

We often fear the future, the unknown. But a true warrior faces forward, confident that their strength and honor will help shape that future. Why should someone who carries their own light ever be afraid of the dark?

It is sometimes said that kindness costs you nothing, so be kind. But often kindness does come at a cost, often takes effort, and it is still worth being kind. It may be worth even more, in that way.

Leave your mark on the world. Not on the land, not in monuments or statues, but on those who will be glad to have known you.