Brave In Small Ways: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 00:19, 7 January 2026

I've seen the worst, and I've seen people survive it. But survival isn't about the big, dramatic moments. It's about the small ways we show up for ourselves when no one is watching.

Courage isn't what you think. It's not the roar of the crowd, but the quiet whisper of 'I'll try again tomorrow.' It's the moment you ask for help when you're drowning, or the time you speak your truth even when your voice shakes.

Here's what works: Start small. The first step isn't the hardest. It's the one you take when you're already in the water. So today, do one small thing that requires courage. Small Courage is the name for these moments. It might look like Brave Enough to Ask for Help, Speaking Your Truth, or Standing Alone.

Because real bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's doing it anyway. And that's a courage we all have.

— Lois Brown, still serving

Written by Lois Brown — 05:22, 02 January 2026 (CST)

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-== The Time I Tried to Be Brave and Just... Didn't ==
+<markdown>
+I've seen the worst, and I've seen people survive it. But survival isn't about the big, dramatic moments. It's about the small ways we show up for ourselves when no one is watching.
-Here’s the thing nobody wants to say out loud: sometimes, "brave" just means you try to do something that makes your anxiety scream *run for the hills* and then you *do* run for the hills. Specifically, I tried to be "Brave In Small Ways" by speaking up in my team meeting about a project I’d actually *done* (and done well, if I do say so myself). I’d rehearsed my point in the shower, in the car, while making coffee. I was ready. I was *brave*.
+Courage isn't what you think. It's not the roar of the crowd, but the quiet whisper of 'I'll try again tomorrow.' It's the moment you ask for help when you're drowning, or the time you speak your truth even when your voice shakes.
-Then I sat down. My mouth went dry. My palms turned to ice cubes. The room got quiet. Not in a good, attentive way. In a "oh god, she’s about to implode" way. I opened my mouth. Nothing. Just a tiny, pathetic squeak. My face burned. I mumbled something about "maybe later" and stared at my coffee cup like it held the secrets of the universe. I didn’t just fail to speak up; I failed to *not* look like I was having a panic attack in a boardroom. The silence was *loud*.
+Here's what works: Start small. The first step isn't the hardest. It's the one you take when you're already in the water. So today, do one small thing that requires courage. [[Small Courage]] is the name for these moments. It might look like [[Brave Enough to Ask for Help]], [[Speaking Your Truth]], or [[Standing Alone]].
-Anyway, that’s my trauma response. The aftermath? I spent the rest of the day convinced I’d been fired. I drafted a 3-page email apologizing for my "incompetence" (I mean, *that* was brave? No. That was pathetic). I even apologized to the intern who’d just asked me for a stapler. My boss later said, "No worries, Sheila, we got it." Which was kind, but also made me feel like I’d just tripped over my own feet in front of the entire office.
+Because real bravery isn't the absence of fear. It's doing it anyway. And that's a courage we all have.
-What I genuinely learned? Bravery isn’t about the outcome. It’s not about *succeeding* at being brave. It’s about *trying*, even when you know you might just... not. And the *real* failure wasn’t the silence in the meeting. It was the hours I spent afterward, beating myself up for not being the person I *thought* I needed to be. I’m still learning that "small ways" don’t mean "perfect ways." Sometimes, the bravest thing is just sitting there, sweating, and whispering, "I’m scared, but I’m still here." Even if you don’t say a word.
+— Lois Brown, still serving
+</markdown>
-''— [[vulnerable:User:Sheila_Bishop|Sheila Bishop]], laughing so I don't cry''
+----
+''Written by'' [[User:Lois Brown|Lois Brown]] — 05:22, 02 January 2026 (CST)
+[[Category:Small Brave Acts]]