Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Being Brave

When 2016 rolled around I decided my motto was going to be..."be you bravely" thanks to this wonderful shirt my sweet sister got for me! She's always known me so well so I think she knew I needed that message in my head all day every day this year.
I used to be someone who was fearless- ok maybe not totally fearless. I did used to hate going upstairs in the dark by myself but other than that- fearless. My mom describes my younger self as a more leap THEN look person. That is the opposite of the way that saying is supposed to go just in case you're unfamiliar with it.  Something wasn't going my way? No worries, I'd figure it out. Have to get a back brace at age 12? Yep, right during the middle of puberty...bring it on. Moving to England- an ocean away from everything I've ever known? Can't wait.

Ok sure there were definitely some tears- particularly on those last two but for the most part when it came to change I had a pretty good attitude. Then somewhere over the years, whether with age or experiences or both I have turned into someone that is quite different than the girl described above. Now I still consider myself to be flexible, someone who can roll with the punches when things aren't going quite right. I am a teacher after all. But I think if the me I am now had been me back then, my parents' lives would have been much more stressful during the back brace/moving to England phase of my life. Now, when I contemplate big changes I don't jump right in the way I might have in the past. I have officially moved into the camp of look BEFORE I leap and not after.

Now in some respects that is probably for the best. First of all, I am injured much less often. I had 3 sets of stitches before I was 3 so this whole fearless thing came at a cost (at least in terms of medical bills!).  I also work with children now and I am sure their parents appreciate that I am much more cautious, and aware than in my younger years.

But when it comes to being brave and needing to make decisions that will alter the direction my life is heading I think my new sense of caution, in some ways, keeps me from being confident. It keeps me from being brave. The last few months I have been working so hard on changing some of that about me. Working towards moving a little bit closer to the girl I used to be. I'm making big changes. Well, maybe not big but they're changes.You've got to start somewhere right? Like deciding to become a beachbody coach- it was a change, it was a risk for me and I did it. Oh and I love it! Other changes I can't share just yet but they are also blossoming into awesome things for my life. Things that I think God placed on my heart and He wanted me to be brave and make them.

I've been reading a new book called "Let's All Be Brave" by Annie Downs. I bought it at the Lifeway Abundance event I wrote about  here and it is echoing loud and clear all of the things that my heart has only been whispering to me.

I am so excited about what this change in perspective is going to do for my life. It's one of the reasons I started blogging again (another change- yay!) so I am also looking forward to sharing all of this with you in the blogging world.

4 comments:

  1. You are and have been brave from the start. Xoxoxo. Dad

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  2. You're the bravest girl I know. Being brave doesn't mean not being afraid. Change is hard, but I'm so excited to see what this next chapter of life brings your way. Tackling your fears is brave. xo

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  3. Since I only know you through your blog (and your mom's and sister's blogs) I can only say I am excited for you and will look forward to you sharing with us when you are ready!

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