In The Year I Lived Bravely, I did ridiculous things. I read Shakespeare and joined my first intramural team. I sang karaoke, which I'm still embarrassingly proud of. I told a girl I didn't know that I really liked her eyebrows. I jumped off the high-dive at Wakulla Springs for the first time in a very long time. I took a class on economic history, which was a mistake but I still passed! I answered the phones at work (which takes all sorts of bravery when you've been out of practice). I convinced Grandma to take a selfie with me. I wore red lipstick for the first time.
In The Year I Lived Bravely, I packed my things, said goodbye to some of the best people I've ever known, and moved 1800 miles. I wrote lots of angsty and depressing posts on this blog because that's what I was feeling, which is embarrassing, but I didn't want to lie about it. I finally made friends. I got started looking for inspiration everywhere, and found things to get excited about. In The Year I Lived Bravely, I tried to keep better contact with my siblings and friends. I wrote letters and made phone calls. I said yes to hard things, and yes to the easy ones, because just because it's easy doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.
In The Year I Lived Bravely, I have said more prayers and cried more tears than I think ever before. I have taken more showers when I need to think things through, because what better place to think than to shower. I have asked more questions and learned more truths, and stopped believing things that were false. I stretched further than I thought I could. I stopped myself from saying things I shouldn't say and convinced myself to say the things I needed to. I apologized more often and quicker than I ever had. I also smiled more than ever. I smiled in relief that certain things were over. I smiled because I had done something I didn't think I could do. I smiled simply because I had more things to be happy about than things to upset by. I tried to trust God and remember just how wonderful He is, because He always took care of me. Always.
Robert Henri wrote in The Art Spirit that "it takes a tremendous amount of courage to be young, to continue growing-- not to settle and accept." And I think he understood what I took an entire year to learn. That life is better, more fulfilling, more exciting, and flourishes when you're Brave.
That is absolutely beautiful. I am inspired!
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Much love,
Mayumi