I was terrified to attempt writing anything and then share. Sharing my paintings , especially when I had never painted before last year and had no idea what I was doing.
Sharing my writing on a public space was a bit scary. I knew I could write, but would anybody want to read it? Now it doesn't scare me at all. Painting, on the other hand..... I have NO confidence in that!
Cathey, an inspiring read about being brave. The past few years there have been many times when I had to put on my "brave" face: moving from my home of 30 years was a big one and starting to share my poems was another. Just taking that first step to try something new...like you said growth comes from those steps.
Linda, I see you as very brave. I love how you just grab adventure and go. I know you've been through stuff, but you have not let it hold you back. You have much more to contribute to the world and I believe you will embrace it.
My husband and I were married for over 60 years; I met him when I was 12. We were a team; he was my rock. After he died, it took every ounce of courage I had to take over and build a new life for myself.
Wow - what a beautiful, long history you had with him. I have also been married for a long time and I know it will be very hard if my husband goes first. And now you share things that may help the rest of us navigate that kind of loss. Thank you for putting your story and feelings out there!
Nice piece about being brave. This is something we do supposedly to satisfy some sort of “ inner satisfaction”.. Not certain it always turns out that way ..as you mentioned.. I continue to admire people who “ step out of their box..
For most of my life, I was not one to seek to step out of my box. But I'm coming to learn that immense growth can happen from pushing myself beyond my personal comfort zone. I don't feel the need to do every big scary thing. I have enough in my day to day life to keep me feeling on the edge of the need to be brave. 😁
I've had to be brave a few times in my life. When I met my husband, it was online. I was a moderator of a truckers chat room and he was an obnoxious trucker that liked to cause trouble. After a while we started talking. I was a widow and wasn't interested in any relationships. After 2 1/2 years of him chasing me, I decided to meet him in person. I drove 1260 miles. I decided to just stay for 2 weeks. I got here to Oklahoma and never went back home. 1260 miles by myself, meeting someone I only knew by his voice, taking a chance of getting a broken heart again but I did it.
I had to be brave when I started to put my writing out there for the world to see after being told many times to give it up.
I think the one time I had to put in a brave face but was actually terrified was when my son was deployed to the Afghan war.
Mia, thank you so much for sharing these transforming moments in your life. I think of you as brave every day just navigating your health issues and keeping the home fires burning for your husband and being his "shotgun driver". That move to Oklahoma was a big, scary stepping out! So glad it has all worked out for you. I know that you look to God for your courage and He gives it to you. Blessings!
I think the scariest thing I’ve ever done was participate in a healing service at church after I was trained as a Stephen Minister. As a counselor, I was comfortable listening to people’s problems, but I felt overwhelmed anointing them with oil and praying aloud for God’s intervention. Somehow I didn’t feel worthy and I definitely didn’t want to screw up their lives. 😊 I did it, but I had a major migraine when I got home. 🤯
I can see how that would be intimidating and an overwhelming responsibility. I pray for people all the time but not so much in a setting like that. Did you ever do it again?
Not like that — where they lined up and came to me for individual intervention and the laying of hands. Yikes! 😱 I’ve pray for people in general prayers in front of the entire congregation, but I was kinda prepared for that.
I feel I'm braver the older i get than I was when I was younger. Ive done more things that are out of my comfort zone that I never would of thought of doing in my 20's and 30's. From riding the mules down into the Grand Canyon, traveling to unfamiliar places alone, to riding the rapids and spending six beautiful nights at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a helicopter ride to get us back to the top. Taking that first step is always scary but once you've done it, you feel like you can accomplish anything. Cheers to all those hero's out there who continue to take that first step.
Actually writing as poem for the first time then sharing it where others could read it was very hard for me to do. Writing and sharing about my life was also very scary for me.
I was about 8 years old when our family had a membership to the local swim club. I could swim fairly well and the diving boards I hesitated to use them. While they I walked up to the ladder to the high dive. I walked to the end of the board, sat down on it. I put my hands up and leaned forward and dove off that board. I did well and got many compliments from other parents on my brave dove.
Great read Cathy. I am not a good swimmer at all. My husband and I along with other relatives will be experiencing an Alaskan cruise in July. Some of the excursions are going to push me a bit. Kayaking, zip lining, rafting are just a few. Right now it sounds like fun, but I’m sure once there, I will get a rush. 🫣
Beautiful reflection and great questions to ponder. I have discovered that I do have an inner strength that shows up when needed. For example, I am afraid of needles and have to turn my head away when having blood tests or whenever the news always has to show needles piercing skin for the umpteenth time on every health related story. But when my sister-in-law was in an induced coma in ICU for weeks with the Hanta virus, I witnessed all kinds of invasive procedures. After the crisis was over, I returned to my fear of needles. Same thing happened after many instances of offering assistance for the public and staff as a trained first aider for over 30 years at the downtown Library and City Hall.
I never choose to do things that cause me to be afraid for recreation or excitement ... no scarey movies, extreme adventures, etc. When I won a Hot Air Balloon adventure for 2, Chris' brother Jim was delighted to take my spot and I was happy to be their official photographer in the crew truck.
Isn't it great that in some instances we can choose for ourselves if we want to be brave or just let that experience pass us by? And then there are those things that we are forced to confront - like needles! But I do think stretching is good and teaches us more about ourselves and life in general. However.....I will not be one to ever jump out of an airplane. Just don't need to! I get plenty of adrenaline rushes in my everyday life. 😂
I was terrified to attempt writing anything and then share. Sharing my paintings , especially when I had never painted before last year and had no idea what I was doing.
Sharing my writing on a public space was a bit scary. I knew I could write, but would anybody want to read it? Now it doesn't scare me at all. Painting, on the other hand..... I have NO confidence in that!
I love your work. I had to overcome comparing myself to others that I felt was top shelf.
Cathey, an inspiring read about being brave. The past few years there have been many times when I had to put on my "brave" face: moving from my home of 30 years was a big one and starting to share my poems was another. Just taking that first step to try something new...like you said growth comes from those steps.
Linda, I see you as very brave. I love how you just grab adventure and go. I know you've been through stuff, but you have not let it hold you back. You have much more to contribute to the world and I believe you will embrace it.
My husband and I were married for over 60 years; I met him when I was 12. We were a team; he was my rock. After he died, it took every ounce of courage I had to take over and build a new life for myself.
Wow - what a beautiful, long history you had with him. I have also been married for a long time and I know it will be very hard if my husband goes first. And now you share things that may help the rest of us navigate that kind of loss. Thank you for putting your story and feelings out there!
Nice piece about being brave. This is something we do supposedly to satisfy some sort of “ inner satisfaction”.. Not certain it always turns out that way ..as you mentioned.. I continue to admire people who “ step out of their box..
For most of my life, I was not one to seek to step out of my box. But I'm coming to learn that immense growth can happen from pushing myself beyond my personal comfort zone. I don't feel the need to do every big scary thing. I have enough in my day to day life to keep me feeling on the edge of the need to be brave. 😁
I've had to be brave a few times in my life. When I met my husband, it was online. I was a moderator of a truckers chat room and he was an obnoxious trucker that liked to cause trouble. After a while we started talking. I was a widow and wasn't interested in any relationships. After 2 1/2 years of him chasing me, I decided to meet him in person. I drove 1260 miles. I decided to just stay for 2 weeks. I got here to Oklahoma and never went back home. 1260 miles by myself, meeting someone I only knew by his voice, taking a chance of getting a broken heart again but I did it.
I had to be brave when I started to put my writing out there for the world to see after being told many times to give it up.
I think the one time I had to put in a brave face but was actually terrified was when my son was deployed to the Afghan war.
Mia, thank you so much for sharing these transforming moments in your life. I think of you as brave every day just navigating your health issues and keeping the home fires burning for your husband and being his "shotgun driver". That move to Oklahoma was a big, scary stepping out! So glad it has all worked out for you. I know that you look to God for your courage and He gives it to you. Blessings!
Thank you
Me being brave:
Putting my writing out in TTHC
Facing 7th graders as a substitute teacher.
Very brave on both counts! 🥰
I think the scariest thing I’ve ever done was participate in a healing service at church after I was trained as a Stephen Minister. As a counselor, I was comfortable listening to people’s problems, but I felt overwhelmed anointing them with oil and praying aloud for God’s intervention. Somehow I didn’t feel worthy and I definitely didn’t want to screw up their lives. 😊 I did it, but I had a major migraine when I got home. 🤯
I can see how that would be intimidating and an overwhelming responsibility. I pray for people all the time but not so much in a setting like that. Did you ever do it again?
Not like that — where they lined up and came to me for individual intervention and the laying of hands. Yikes! 😱 I’ve pray for people in general prayers in front of the entire congregation, but I was kinda prepared for that.
I feel I'm braver the older i get than I was when I was younger. Ive done more things that are out of my comfort zone that I never would of thought of doing in my 20's and 30's. From riding the mules down into the Grand Canyon, traveling to unfamiliar places alone, to riding the rapids and spending six beautiful nights at the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a helicopter ride to get us back to the top. Taking that first step is always scary but once you've done it, you feel like you can accomplish anything. Cheers to all those hero's out there who continue to take that first step.
Love everything about this, Melanie! What a fantastic adventure. I do feel braver now than I ever have as well!
Actually writing as poem for the first time then sharing it where others could read it was very hard for me to do. Writing and sharing about my life was also very scary for me.
Well, you did great and continued to write and share as you feel led. Good for you!
I was about 8 years old when our family had a membership to the local swim club. I could swim fairly well and the diving boards I hesitated to use them. While they I walked up to the ladder to the high dive. I walked to the end of the board, sat down on it. I put my hands up and leaned forward and dove off that board. I did well and got many compliments from other parents on my brave dove.
Brave at an early age! I have a feeling your bravery has stayed with you.
That’s my plan.
Great read Cathy. I am not a good swimmer at all. My husband and I along with other relatives will be experiencing an Alaskan cruise in July. Some of the excursions are going to push me a bit. Kayaking, zip lining, rafting are just a few. Right now it sounds like fun, but I’m sure once there, I will get a rush. 🫣
I’m not a good swimmer either, Audrey. Water adventures will always challenge me. Sounds like a great trip, though! Hope you do try all the things!
Beautiful reflection and great questions to ponder. I have discovered that I do have an inner strength that shows up when needed. For example, I am afraid of needles and have to turn my head away when having blood tests or whenever the news always has to show needles piercing skin for the umpteenth time on every health related story. But when my sister-in-law was in an induced coma in ICU for weeks with the Hanta virus, I witnessed all kinds of invasive procedures. After the crisis was over, I returned to my fear of needles. Same thing happened after many instances of offering assistance for the public and staff as a trained first aider for over 30 years at the downtown Library and City Hall.
I never choose to do things that cause me to be afraid for recreation or excitement ... no scarey movies, extreme adventures, etc. When I won a Hot Air Balloon adventure for 2, Chris' brother Jim was delighted to take my spot and I was happy to be their official photographer in the crew truck.
Isn't it great that in some instances we can choose for ourselves if we want to be brave or just let that experience pass us by? And then there are those things that we are forced to confront - like needles! But I do think stretching is good and teaches us more about ourselves and life in general. However.....I will not be one to ever jump out of an airplane. Just don't need to! I get plenty of adrenaline rushes in my everyday life. 😂