Sometimes you have to decide to be brave. Not BE brave. That’s different. I’m talking about making a decision to Be Brave when everything in you is telling you to Run. Hide. Make yourself small, invisible, basically . . . not seen.
But that’s not living. That’s not valuing what I have been given.
That’s not answering Mary Oliver’s question of “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
So today I am filled with fear, but I am refusing to let that stop me from Standing up. Looking up. Holding myself up. Deciding, unequivocally, to Be Brave.
Because this is what I know for sure. I will never be able to Fully Live my one wild and precious life without bravery. Never. It just won’t happen.
So who’s with me today? Anyone out there feeling the call to Decide to Be Brave? Embody courage? Be seen?
I’m with you and here for you. We can do this! ❤️
~Brenda
P.S. Here is Mary Oliver’s full poem that includes the beautiful question that I mentioned above. It’s called The Summer Day.
The Summer Day by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don’t know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
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?
P.P.S. If you need someone to talk to or if your life is in transition and you need help navigating the next steps, I’m here for you. You can read about my Life Coach services on this page and schedule a free Inquiry Phone Call here.
Did you like this story? If you did, I have a feeling you’d like this one too. It’s all about the The Elusive Search for Belonging. You can download my inspirational coloring book Awaken Your Soul here. Go here to read my most popular blog post. Curious about what I mean by Gently Do What Is Right For You? You can find a post about it here.
You can gently do and be brave. I never put the two together but your words showed me the way. I needed your words today and there they were! So grateful! Rita Gray Ramey
Rita, you absolutely can gently do and be brave! Actually, gently doing what is right for you requires bravery! And I’m so thankful that you took the time to read and comment. I need encourage to keep sharing and their your words were for me today! I love that we are helping each other. ❤️