I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how many little victories we let pass us by. How many successes we have daily that we don’t think are successes because they don’t make the drastic ‘fb status worthy’ changes that we have come to associate as markers of making it. At the end of the day those small victories won’t change the fact that I have a student loan, or am unlikely to own a house (in the near or distant future but here’s hoping eh). They don’t change the fact that I’m still not 100% sure what I want to do with my life but godamnit if I can be out of bed by 8am with a homemade smoothie in hand then surely that counts for something right?
Everyday we get up and find courage within ourselves, courage that helps us to wade through the difficulties that life throws at us, both the expected and the unexpected. Where we set the bar for success is different for each and everyone of us (or maybe you’re like me and it’s different for everyday of the week lol). It’s good to know where your limits lie, because you can surprise yourself by pushing them little by little until one day you’ll find you have new limits. I cannot count the amount of times that I have surprised myself by going outside of my comfort zone and realising that I can actually handle it. If today you needed a reminder of all the bad ass times that you’ve been brave then I hope that you can relate to some of these moments I’ve been jotting down over the last little while.
bravery is getting out of bed in the morning
bravery is tackling the terror that lies between getting out of bed and actually making it to lectures
bravery is asking for help when you are struggling
bravery is accepting help when you are struggling
bravery is deciding to ~spontaneously~ bake without following a recipe
bravery is trying to break in a new pair of shoes during your daily commute
bravery is forgiving those who have hurt you in the past
bravery is saying no to the world when everything is getting too much
bravery is saying yes to the world when you want to say no
bravery is putting yourself out there and facing situations that are scary and out of your comfort zone
bravery is going all in
bravery is talking about your political views even though you know you might sound naive or stupid
bravery is letting go of love
bravery is letting love in again
bravery is embracing vulnerability
bravery is saying hi to the person next to you in your lecture theatre
bravery is being the first person to speak in the first tutorial of the year
bravery is confidently leaving the house without a coat in Spring
bravery is being ok with not knowing what is going to come next
bravery is wearing a statement earring on a casual Wednesday
bravery is demanding more for yourself.
bravery is knowing your worth
bravery is choosing to live now rather than later
bravery is getting something different when you ALWAYS get eggs bene with spinach and creamy mushrooms
bravery is shutting up that snarky bitchy voice in your head that says ‘you aren’t as good those other girls’ and telling her to hit the road
bravery is being kind to yourself
bravery is embracing change
bravery is figuring out how to dress appropriately for job interviews
bravery is setting goals for yourself
bravery is trying to a navigate a new bus route
bravery is leaving with your head held high after your card declines twice in front of the cashier
bravery is being ok with evolving
bravery is being 100% you, no matter who you’re with and how fashionable and intimidating they are
bravery is backing yourself and having the self confidence to let yourself fathom success.
bravery is sharing stories of your success with others
bravery is supporting the success of others even when you are feeling low
bravery is putting one foot in front of the other
sometimes others will not see your bravery, they may not know that what you are doing in that very moment is courageous, but YOU will know. We have SO many moments every day where instead of succumbing to the desire to leave behind all of lifes’ pressures and responsibilities and melt away into nothingness, we show up, grit our teeth and stick it out. I’ve seen my own friends rise up to meet insurmountable challenges, challenges they could never imagine themselves facing. I have done that myself and everyone will have their own story of climbing their own mountains. If you need help look around you and be inspired by those people who are choosing to live each day. That doesn’t have to mean shouting from the rooftops that they are living their #bestlife (although it definitely can). It can just mean that little by little, one bowl of ice cream at a time, they are claiming their small victories and rising to their challenges.
One of my favourite ladies to follow for days when I feel like I need some more bravery in my life is Mari Andrew. Her Instagram illustrations capture the nuances of life’s daily struggles so well, every time one of her images pops up on my feed I just feel so comforted and understood! She has the bravery to pull apart her experiences and put them back together in the most creative and relatable way for all of us to enjoy and nod our heads along to. They are also really funny, and I’m pretty sure it’s in the Bible that the best way to cure fear is by laughing so you can’t argue with that. Three cheers for Mari!
images @bymariandrew
Be kind to yourself and celebrate your small victories. We only have one life, don’t waste it being hard on yourself.
xx
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