Bravery takes it’s shape in many forms. The first image that comes to mind when I hear the word bravery is someone skydiving. Jumping out of a plane with nothing but a harness, trusting that it will catch you is so brave to me. It’s something I have little desire to do.
Another image that pops into my head is a man on a horse with a sword raised over his head, charging into battle. I’m not a huge fan of these historical movies where there’s a lot of sword clashing and bloodshed, but the idea that you’d give your life to a cause you imagine to be worthy is brave to me.
These are not my forms of bravery. Though I think our nervous systems are still quite primed to push adrenaline out in these situations to protect us, they often do a lousy job at realizing what’s truly a danger to us. My life is rarely at risk, but I often get that feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is going to go wrong. A mistake will be made, and the life I’ve built for myself will come tumbling down; it never does.
My bravery takes on the form of taking risks on myself. It’s the “do it scared” mentality that pushes me forward and causes me to really believe in myself. Bravery has allowed me to move across states and countries and continents. Bravery has helped me leave situations and relationships that were harming me, even though I didn’t want to let go. Bravery has got me to where I am today: the place, the moment, even the Briana I am.
It’s difficult to define bravery for myself because it shows up in so many disparate ways, rising to the occasion exactly how I need it to in the moment. Bravery is taking a chance. It’s faith, and it’s fear, and it’s figting for yourself all rolled into one.
I can’t wait to see where my brand of bravery gets me in 2023.
2/31
Love your pictures of bravery. It really is one day and moment at a time. Each choice before is. Thanks!