Always Brave (cadet blue)

I’ve felt fearful as far back as I can remember.

Dogs were scary.

The dark was terrifying.

Water was scary so my swim teacher refunded my parents their money.

Swinging was scary after my friend Staci told me her uncle swung so high that he’d gone right over the top and died.

Staci also told me you could swallow your tongue and I tried to stop eating for a while.

Mushrooms were scary, how did they know which ones were poisonous and which ones were edible?

I broke my arm riding a skateboard and from then on, skateboards were dangerous, I never rode one again.

But here’s the thing, I’m also very brave.

I was the first child in my family that learned to swim.

When my broken arm was still bent out of shape, they found a blood clot on the X-ray.  Without medication I sat very still and quiet as the doctor used a huge needle to find the blood clot and drain it, then physically reset my arm.

This past May at Disney World I was totally freaked out about going on Tower of Terror, yet I waited in line for almost two hours and made it out alive and well.

Every day I push myself to do something that feels hard or scary.

It’s easy to believe that bravery feels stalwart, strong, and solid.

It actually feels pretty unsettling, unsure, and scary.

But there is something in us that yearns for more, something higher and better than our fear.

When you’re feeling afraid and you’re working your way through it, remember you are BRAVE!

(Brought to you by Crayola Colors of Kindness)