Beginnings of Bravery

For those who were curious about yesterday's pomegranate, here is a photo of it without filters, fingers or faces. Weird huh?! It had been a year since I'd eaten a pomegranate so I forgot they weren't supposed to look like that inside, and didn't think it too remarkable...


Thanks to Melba I found out about a really cool idea for the month of October.



Jessie over at Diary of a Self Portrait is challenging us to Be Brave Everyday. How???

By doing one brave thing that scares the hell out of us everyday. It is all inspired by a wonderful quote by Eleanor Roosevelt:

Do

one

thing

every

day

that

scares

you.

From what I understand of this challenge it is Not just to be blindly scaring yourself, but more in a challenging yourself from that deep dark chewy center we all have, where we keep our limits set in stone, telling ourselves:

Oh No,

I can't go there,

do this,

say that,

try this...

So I had to go look it up in the dictionary.

BRAVE–adjective
1.possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance.
2.making a fine appearance.
3.Archaic. excellent; fine; admirable.

—Synonyms 1. bold, intrepid, daring, dauntless, heroic. Brave, courageous, valiant, fearless, gallant refer to confident bearing in the face of difficulties or dangers. Brave is the most comprehensive: it is especially used of that confident fortitude or daring that actively faces and endures anything threatening. Courageous implies a higher or nobler kind of bravery, esp. as resulting from an inborn quality of mind or spirit that faces or endures perils or difficulties without fear and even with enthusiasm. Valiant implies a correspondence between an inner courageousness and external deeds, particularly of physical strength or endurance. Fearless implies unflinching spirit and coolness in the face of danger. Gallant implies a chivalrous, impetuous, or dashing bravery.
—Antonyms 1. cowardly.

adjective
1. possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching; "Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver but less daring"- Herman Melville; "a frank courageous heart...triumphed over pain"- William Wordsworth; "set a courageous example by leading them safely into and out of enemy-held territory" [ant: cowardly]
2. invulnerable to fear or intimidation; "audacious explorers"; "fearless reporters and photographers"; "intrepid pioneers" [syn: audacious]
3. brightly colored and showy; "girls decked out in brave new dresses"; "brave banners flying"; "'braw' is a Scottish word"; "a dress a bit too gay for her years"; "birds with gay plumage"

I feel good about jumping in and participating in this project as it fits in well with my new motto of the year: DO IT ANYWAYS. See bold in definition just above.

Brave thing #1: Yesterday I made phone calls. Several of which were to doctors that I'd been putting off making all summer. One of which mean I'll have surgery in a month.

Brave Thing #2: Today I mailed a letter. Doesn't seem too brave huh? Well, it is to the friend and neighbor whose dog attacked and nearly killed ours. Gulp. Fingers crossed that it is received in a generous manner.