Originally Posted by
LexieCat 
The "courage" part comes in, I think, to do what YOU were put on this earth to do, and to be. Your life won't go on forever, either. None of us knows how long we have. Do you want to come to the end of YOUR life feeling like all you were doing was treading water and trying not to get sucked under? You are obviously a bright, compassionate, articulate woman. There are things you could be doing with your life other than standing by watching his life circle the drain.
I haven't blown you guys off. I've been reading and re-reading (and praying and meditating). Plus I've been crazy busy at work.
LexiCat, your post reminds me of that wonderful Mary Oliver line:
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
Thank you FireSprite, for Brene Brown's thoughts on courage, and thanks to maia and the rest of you.
I am still ruminating on what y'all have had to say to me. Will update soon.