The Little Hinge That Swings Big Doors

Boulders of Lake Tahoe

Boldness is the little hinge that swings big doors. It’s the moment hesitation loosens its grip, and it's what separates regret from fulfillment.

Boldness is often misunderstood. It isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the conviction to act with fear riding co-pilot. It’s the steady resolve to move forward despite uncertainty or the risk of being wrong.

To be bold is to be firm and resilient. Just as the Juniper Tree isn't intimidated by the elements, boldness isn't intimidated by the naysayers and other noise. It's about trusting your instincts and leaping into the unknown, something not yet proven.

"What you can do or think you can do, begin it.

For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The General Abrams Juniper

The mighty Juniper doesn't rise from fertile ground. It doesn't grow in beauty and strength from pleasant weather. Similarly, innovation, progress, and meaningful change don’t emerge from comfort, they emerge from people willing to challenge norms and move before permission is granted.

History has always bent toward the bold. From science to art, leadership to craftsmanship, boldness has carried humanity forward by creating opportunity where others saw only red lights, dead ends and other obstacles.

The Face of Boldness

During World War II, General Creighton Abrams and his 37th Tank Battalion found themselves in a dire position during the Battle of the Bulge completely surrounded by German forces. The situation was bleak.

The face of boldness. One of three times General Abrams appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

General Abrams called his officers together and reframed the moment with these words:

“Gentlemen, for the first time in the history of this campaign, we’re surrounded on the North, on the South, on the East, and on the West…We can now attack the enemy in all directions.”

That wasn’t bravado. That was boldness. Clear-eyed, grounded and decisive. The motto of General Abrams' 37th Tank Battalion was “Courage Conquers.” If ever a unit lived up to its motto, this one did. General Abrams led from the front, in the turret of his own tank, which he named Thunderbolt. His leadership and tank strategy were instrumental in breaking through German lines, earning him two Distinguished Service Crosses.

General Abrams' heroics during the Battle of the Bulge solidified his reputation as a skilled and respected military leader who understood that boldness isn’t recklessness, it’s resolve under pressure.

General Creighton Abrams standing beside a Sherman repainted to honor his M4A3 ‘Thunderbolt VII’ which he was commanding during the Battle of the Bulge. Photo Credit: The Tank Museum

But boldness isn’t just about history’s giants. It’s deeply personal. It’s how ordinary people live authentic lives. It’s how potential gets unleashed. Acting boldly builds courage the same way muscles are built, through constant use. Each small act of resolve strengthens the next. And when we act boldly, we don’t merely seize opportunities, we create them.

Donner Summit Bridge

Practicing Boldness

Boldness is built deliberately. Like a bridge, crossing it requires leaving the familiar behind.

It’s bold to try.

It’s bold to care.

It's bold to commit.

It's bold to not give up.

It’s bold to go all the way.

In the words of Charles Bukowski:

“If you’re going to try, go all the way…You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.”

In the end, you won’t wish you’d played it safer. You’ll wish you’d cross that bridge and truly tried. That you’d given yourself fully to your passion, your art, your calling, your family, your community - or whatever makes you come alive.

All photographs by Michael Kennedy (unless otherwise noted) / BlueWolfGallery.com

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I’m Michael Kennedy, a resident of Olympic Valley, CA (in photo above). I’m a writer & photographer and I love exploring nature and getting lost along the way. We live in a world that demands our attention and I just want to say thank you for your attention. If you enjoyed this post, please share with a friend. For more photos and stories visit BlueWolfGallery.com.