Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Can you be BRAVE?

What does it mean to be BRAVE?

Brave \Brave\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braved; p. pr. & vb. n. Braving.]

1. To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to defy; to dare. [1913 Webster]

These I can brave, but those I can not bear. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To adorn; to make fine or showy. [Obs.]

[1913 Webster]

Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast braved meny men; brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved. --Shak. [1913 Webster]


What is a Brave girl?

A brave girl faces her life problems head on. Without wavering.

Oh, she feels fear..
and anger...
and sorrow...
and loneliness...
and even despair at times.


And disappointment... can't forget disappointment.

And change... Change that she did not want, but needed, and was prepared for..

if she knew it or not.


A brave girls has been bruised... emotionally... sometimes physically... usually mentally.


A brave girl has inner fears... and denial... and hangups..

And a brave girl is SO STRONG. She has inner strength inside screaming to take charge.
Brave girls have dreams... BIG dreams... dreams to change their lives... and the lives of those around them.. and then maybe.. the world.


And she dreams her dream, and dreams her dream,and then dreams her dream again...


until she gets it right.



And, man alive... she gets it right. She really listens and gets it right..
Brave girls do not hold back.

Brave girls have baggage. Lots and lots of baggage...


Brave girls can STRUT when they need to.


And lift each other up... and bear one another's burdens.

No matter how heavy.


Brave girls know... it's all good.. ALL of it. All the trials, and meanies, and heartache, and pain... it's ALL good.

Brave girls KNOW first hand what it takes to makes us brave.


Brave girls are not afraid.


Well, okay... some brave girls are afraid of itty bitty snakes... but only the real snakes... not the metaphors.

Brave girls do not slow down.

Brave girls take time for themselves... no matter how much they cannot afford it.


Brave girls share their love and their strength with those around them.


Brave girls assess what they have been given, and they make their lives amazing.
Brave girls do not give up, or cop out...

Even though they might want too..

Even though the temptation is SO strong..

Brave girls persevere.

Brave girls know life will be great! Really GREAT...


Maybe not today...
but if they continue to be brave.

And brave girls smile.


And put on a brave face...


and laugh.


Laugh till they cry, and then laugh some more.

((Even after crafting more in three days than they have in the entire rest of their life.))


Brave girls know after the rain the world is clean, and refreshed... and that the world has to have rain..

And rain often...


But the sunshine will ALWAYS be back.


Brave girls never indulge.

They have extreme self control...


Well, okay, sometimes brave girls indulge a little...

Well, over indulge a little...


But brave girls share their caramel.


Sometimes.


Once a brave girl... always a brave girl.





A brave girl has the strength and self confidence to look you square in the eye.




Brave girls are life long friends.

The kind of friend who is with you for the long haul.


And really wants to share your burdens.



Till we meet again... my brave girls.






I have been asleep all my life.

Drifting... not really knowing what I want or need... carrying around baggage that wasn't even my baggage, and along with the baggage, the worlds smallest violin case... ((hmmm, I wonder what could be in there?))

I admit.. I am not fully awake.. but I am stirring....

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

You truly captured brave girl camp! what great photos! i love seeing the photos around the camp of the cabin, etc that I forgot to take.

keep strutting girlie!

BigTex.in.Idaho said...

I wanna be a Brave Girl after that description.:) I can't wait to see you fully awake. You are already amazing and can only be better.

Chelsea said...

I LOVE this....EVERY word of it! And I am SO happy that those beautiful carmel pictures are up there, because I have pretty much NEVER looked better. You are such a beautiful, brave girl,and I really feel blessed to know you!

melody ross said...

Cami, this is so awesome.....you did such an incredible job of putting the right photos with the right words....I just have one thing to say...

WATCH OUT WORLD, HERE SHE COMES!!! SHE'S WAKING UP AND IT'S GONNA BE AMAAAAAZING!!!

So thankful that I have been able to stand beside you on parts of this journey and witness your strength, resolve, your willingness to admit and fix mistakes, your determination to create a better life for you and for your eternal family, and your BRAVERY in looking life right in the eye and not letting it beat you....

you are a true, blue Brave Girl.

xoxoxo
melody

Jeanne Oliver said...

LOVE this!!! What amazing words...even if we could hold on to some of these each day we can change the world!!!

Kallie said...

Wow Cami, this is powerful...I love every word of it! I am proud of you for what you're doing and where you're going. I am behind you 100%! I believe in you and the marvelous things inside of you!

Maria said...

Camille this was a beautiful post. I laughed and cried. It was such an amazing time, and I loved being next to you watching you create. You are SO VERY talented and have so much to offer this world!!

Anonymous said...

Not only can you create amazing things with art, but you can also create amazing things with words. You're a fantastic writer--this was beautiful written, so very heartfelt. You are beautiful! Thank you for capturing the very essence of BCG and putting it out there for others to get a taste of. Wonderful! :)

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