Michele writes:

Sometimes being brave goes unnoticed because everyone’s brave looks different. What comes easy for me might be hard for others and vice versa. One of my favorite parts of traveling is forcing myself to be outside of my comfort zone.  It’s not something that comes easily for me. I, like most people, like familiar, safe, comfortable things. But I have a strong belief that sitting in discomfort until it no longer feels as distressing is the only way to learn and grow.  Familiar only become familiar by doing. But this takes courage. Sometimes small amounts and other times it takes every ounce we’ve got. 

Luca has been big brave our first two days in Guatemala. He used an airplane bathroom for the first time. Something I thought was a simple ask of him took a lot of courage for him to do.  I had no idea he was afraid to use the airplane bathroom.

He made me think about all the times people don’t do and we don’t understand the reasoning behind it.  Also, it made me think about how infrequently we are brave enough to just say “I am scared” or “this makes me nervous.” Not only does it leave us feeling isolated in our own fear,  but we rob those we love of the opportunity to help us through hard things.

The second time Luca was brave, he asked me to be brave first.  Yesterday we had the chance to swing on a pretty big swing at Hobbetenango. Due to weight, age, height and all the things,only Luca, Carla, and I qualified to go.  Luca asked me to go first.  Now this was big brave for me. I don’t necessarily have a fear of heights,  but I do have the fear that comes with aging. I have far out grown the stage of life of being invincible.  The knowledge that a broken bone or even a simple injury could ruin an entire trip, not just for me but those around me.  This is the fear that stops me.  But Luca asked me to be brave and go first, so I did as he asked.  I flew through the air with all the espresso filled adrenaline rushing through my body and I loved every minute of it (though the coffee right before might have been a bad idea). Those moments were thrilling and freeing.  No time to hesitate, analyze, or talk myself out of it.  Just moments of pure joy. 

My excitement continued as I got to watch Luca conquer his fear.  For two years he has wanted to do this and backed out each time.  This time he told us he was nervous, he voiced wanting to do and then decided he was gonna be brave and try it. Afterwards he told me while he was on the platform he was so nervous he wanted to cry.  I told him that there’s lots of times in life that he will feel this way. We were all so proud of him,  but most importantly he was proud of himself. Shoot, even I was proud of myself lol.  Not gonna lie,  my legs trembled for a good 15 minutes even after I was back on solid ground, but it was worth every minute. 

So be brave,  tell others when you aren’t feeling so brave.  Do the hard things till they don’t feel so hard.  It reminds your brain that you are capable of tough stuff and not as fragile as the voice in our head tells us we are.

Tell others when your proud of them and create safe spaces for them to tell you when they aren’t feeling so brave.   Today I am proud of Luca for being big brave.