Yesterday I was reading a book, (whose title is rather unimportant), when I came across a line I have heard many times before: patience is a virtue.

All along I have believed that meant that patience is a good thing to strive for. While patience is something to strive for, and is something that society sees as a goal and value, the practice in itself is not the virtue.

According to dictionary.com  a virture is conformity of one’s life and conduct to moral and ethical principles; uprightness; rectitude.

I think that it is great to have a virtue. It gives you something to strive for in times of growth, and fall back on in times of weakness. A virtue can be like a hand book to life, the cool part is you get to choose your own.

So I asked myself, what is my own virtue? I did some soul searching. I brooded, I reasoned, and I googled. I came across countless virtues, and they ranged from the promises of evil to kindness, to leadership.

A virtue doesn’t have to be a positive way to live your life, though I wish my own virtue to be.

Finally I came across a virtue that I thought suited me well, and it is resilience. This means to keep going even when things are looking down; remember that human nature is to be tough and to not frighten others with my fears.

I am glad that I identified with this virtue. My ideal is to be resilient, and this is a way of reminding me that.

I have begun to wonder what other people’s virtues are. From my best friend to a stranger I meet on the street, I want to know what people want to live by. This is not only a revelation of character but also of morals.

What’s your virtue?