Brave

My Dearest Darling Daughter,

I want to tell you a secret…
I can see your brave.
I see it in times like this…
When you’re running down a gravel hill in designer leather boots without a hint of fear or hesitation.  I see freedom in your smile and wild eyes, and the whispy curls falling around that beautiful face.  I see life when you put all of your energy into an activity you love so much that you run and run and fall down laughing.  I can see your brave in moments like the one in this picture:

 I hope you always run toward your goals in life, like you ran down that gravel hill… eyes wide open, fierce determination, spunky laughter, and a wild-eyed happiness.  Always… I hope you always chase your dreams.

I can see your brave, even when I don’t feel brave.

There are a lot of unknowns in your life.  I’m not good with unknowns.  I like to know things.  I like to learn things.  I like to ask questions and hear answers.  But moms don’t have anyone to ask deep, “how is her life going to turn out?” type questions about their daughters to.  Because your journey is yours alone.  Only you will determine the steps of your path.  Only you will be able to answer my questions, but you can’t answer them today.  Those answers only come as life unfolds.  I’ll have to be around to see those answers, because they won’t be in the form of words.  Only when you’ve lived your life on your terms in your time with your spirit and purpose will I truly ever have answers to my questions.  But I know you’re going to be okay.

Because I’ve seen your brave.

When your hands hurt, but you keep on writing.  When your arms hurt, but you keep on swinging across those monkey bars.  When your legs hurt, but you keep on swimming.  I remember when you were a baby girl.  About 13 months old.  I have a video of you swimming in the pool, and running around.  You loved to swim even then; but when you ran to tell your daddy how great it was, you fell.  Time after time when you tried to walk or run, you fell.

What amazed me, what intrigued me, what inspired me was that every single time you fell, you got right back up.  You never stayed down but a few seconds, and you never cried.  Every time you fell, you never cried.  It was as if you knew that nothing would ever hold you down.  When I think of the determination, the purposeful standing back up, the never crying, never staying down, I think of the power you have to determine your own path.  I know you can.  I know this power is in you, I know it deep in the fiber of my being.  You control your destiny.  And you know what you want.  I know you’ll go after it with all of your might.

Because I’ve seen your brave:

Grab your dreams and pull them to yourself.  Keep working.  Keep swimming.  Keep learning.  Keep moving, and always, always, always keep getting back up!

Tonight, you took a big chance at dry land practice.  You stood on your own and answered a question.  The class was voting with their bodies and you were the only one who answered the question and stuck by your answer.  When everyone else was moving into the corner of the right answer, you stayed.  That took a lot of guts.  You were very brave.  I was proud of you, even though you were wrong.  Know why?  Because you were brave enough to stand your ground, to not jump in with the crowd, and to stand up for what you believe in.  Even if it was wrong.  You’ll learn over time, to choose the right thing.  You’ll probably be more cautious about voting with your body after tonight.  You’ll probably wonder if you’re making the right choice from here on out.  And that’s a good thing.  As the days go by and you make more mistakes, you’ll learn.  Mistakes are what will teach you real life lessons.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you to do the wrong thing.  I’m just telling you to do your thing.  Be kind.  Be loving.  Be happy.  Be yourself.  If anyone tells you that’s wrong, don’t listen.  Stay in your corner and stand your ground.  Know who you are and what your dreams are, and keep moving toward that.  Don’t jump over to somebody else’s corner, because you think they might have it better over there.  (Trust me that scenerio never plays out well.)  You’ll be fine when you stay true to yourself.  Even if you are the only one believing.  You will be just fine.

I know.  I’ve seen your brave.

This is my ultimate favorite picture of you.  You are such a pretty girl.  But you’re so much more than just pretty.  You’re intelligent, you’re fascinating, you’re funny,  you’re silly, you’re kind, you’re generous, you’re spontaneous, you’re precious, you’re loving, you’re magnificent, you’re miraculous, you’re precocious.  Most importantly, you are you.

Time will go by so fast.  In ten short years, you’ll be on the road and leaving daddy and I in the dust.  You’ll be busy with all the things that will bring you closer to that dream you are chasing.  Your body will change, your brain will grow, and your circle of friendship will always expand.  Promise me that you will never forget who you are.  Never forget to take care of yourself, and never forget to stay in your own corner!  Oh, and once in a while, look in the mirror and see your brave.  It’s there.

I can see your brave!

Love, Mom