How big is your BRAVE?

Why is it that the older and wiser we get the less fun we allow ourselves to have? I think it's because responsibilities and past experiences (cough cough: baggage) start racking up: deadlines, work, bills, past mistakes and heartache. All these things make us more cautious and skeptical of diving in to things like we used to. That's one reason I'm in love with summer. There's something about these 3 perfect months that makes me act like a kid. I start feeling nostalgic and want to play night games with the neighborhood kids again. I suddenly don't care that I have to work at 8 every morning, instead I want to stay out all night every night going on adventures, soaking up the moonlight and warm air, and pretty much living in a swim suit. The responsibilities of life monopolize my time from 8 am to 5 pm, but the remaining 15 hours of the day and those precious weekends are mine. You can bet I don't intend to spend most of those hours sleeping.

This summer has been one of the best ones yet. We've spent most of our time on the back of a scooter, beachin at Bear Lake, BBQs, fireworks, derby's, movie nights, ping pong, all-night talks, campouts, and truly feeling like a kid again with the exception of no parents telling us when we need to be home. The perfect second chance.

Going along with this mentality of living it up and squeezing every delicious drop of summer we possibly can, the roomies and I have adopted a new philosophy. We like to call it being "bold, assertive, and classy: never trashy." Ok so it does sound a little ridiculous and originally started out as a joke but after realizing it actually worked we started taking it more seriously. Basically it means we've decided to speak our minds and say and be who we are. There is not enough time in this life to let a moment pass you by and end up wishing you would have said something or put yourself out there. A quick sting of sometimes (brutal) truth or maybe even rejection is worth the immediate absolution that fills your mind and enables you to move forward instead of looking back. Time spent feeling unsure or full of regret is time wasted. Would you rather be dragged behind a car at the mercy of the driver or jump out by your own free will? I don't know about you, but I'd rather jump when I choose and hit the pavement running. Don't apologize for being yourself or belittle how you feel or think, be YOU and don't be afraid to express it. 

So how has this little epiphany worked out for the ladies in F201? Let's just say each of us started out the summer with worries and questions, just like all girls do, but now we've taken control of our lives. We've felt empowered and confident and completely free. So far our list includes things like telling a longtime crush how we really feel and crossing the boundary from friendship to something more, telling a guy to come back for a goodnight kiss when he chickens out at the doorstep, cutting things off quickly with someone who didn't treat us right, making big life decisions even when we're scared or unsure, taking the necessary steps to get our lives back on track, attacking the elephant in the room and talking things out, doing something really physically challenging, picking ourselves up after the grief of losing someone we love. This is only the beginning, but it's so much more than a list. It's becoming a way of life for us, we're being who we really are and not apologizing for it. We're becoming even more comfortable in our own skin, and respecting and understanding people for who they are, too. Try it. I promise you'll be filled with confidence and fall even deeper in love with your life. 

Also, don't let fear rule you. Fear manifests itself differently for each of us, but for me it shows by complacency. When I'm scared, I do nothing. I simply sit and wait for something to happen instead of taking action. Kind of a scary thought, right? But here is what I'm slowly learning: we can't sit around waiting for good things to happen. This limits you to ONLY the possibilities that come your way. Wouldn't you rather be in control of your life? Go out and get what you want, and if it's not out there, create it. Your possibilities will expand to literally anything you can imagine rather than only the things that come your way. Take a step into the unknown. The Lord can't direct something that stands still or force it to move. But He can guide, stop, or direct something that is moving. Get up and get moving! As soon as we do we'll either feel a confirmation that it's right or receive the clarity that we need to head in a different direction. Either way, knowing for sure is so much better than painfully sitting and waiting.

Just throwing this out there: listen to the song "Brave" by Sara Bareilles if you haven't yet. All of her songs are small insights into my most inner, twisted, girl-thinking but hey this one applies perfectly to this post. 

"Say what you want to say

And let the words fall out

Honestly, I want to see you be brave!" 

Oh and summer, please never end.