A cage.

Last night, inspiration hit me while watching the second movie of the Lord of the Rings series.  The warrior Aragorn approaches Eowyn, a beautiful woman and niece of the King (who also has warriors heart) as she is swinging a sword.  This is their conversation:

Aragorn: You have some skill with a blade.

Eowyn: The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.

Aragorn: What do you fear, my lady?

Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.

Aragorn: You are a daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.

Nor will it be mine.

I am thankful that I don't have to live life in a cage of fear.  I'm thankful that I'm still young enough that the chance and desire for a life of valor are not yet beyond me.