BRAV[E]·ing the WILD·erness
the capitalization emphasis
and inserted E and dots
are my adds
it visually prompts me to process
the words
differently
anyone remember diagramming sentences?
I think that [excessive] 8th-grade exercise
was part of my journey
of waking up my delight for words
for the benefits of visualization
to simplify the complex
[notice how I communicate in short phrases?]
intentional breaks, pauses
deconstructing things into their essence
the book is actually titled
Braving the Wilderness
The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone
by Brené Brown
sidenote
on 10/31/2017
this book was gifted to me by JS 🦄✨
and I didn't read it until 2022
framing what's below
center-aligned are the directly quoted
words, phrases,
that resonated with me
and left-aligned
are my added personal reflections
When I start
swallowed by fear
search for inspiration
from
disrupters
courage feels contagious
safe, filtered, and comfortable
I had become addicted
to safety and comfort
made possible by cashflow
it was time to disrupt
my patterned addiction
storytelling
Take us with you
into that story
Maya Angelou
"Still I Rise"
be both
full of joy
and unsparing
such a paradox
which became
my 1-word for 2021
par·a·dox
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true
despite
the turbulence
around me
home was safe
a refuge
from the pain
of not belonging
I belonged
at home
I'm sad
for the people I know
in this town
for whom
home is not
a safe place
emotionally and/or physically
moments
left unspoken and unresolved
send us
searching desperately
for belonging
settling
for fitting in
belonging?
it depends on where I am
professionally
several years ago, already
I felt shifted
into a misaligned star
Misaligned stars have both the ability and engagement needed to successfully take on more critical responsibilities, but either don't aspire to the roles available at more senior levels or don't choose to make the sacrifices requires to attain and perform those high-level jobs. HBR
settling?!
NO
I'm a Maximzer
They seek to transform something strong
into something superb
for me, settling is not acceptable
fitting in?
guilty
I know how to fit in
and too often quietly choose
against my Maximer self
to instead just settle and fit in
without feeling like I belong
own the pain
develop a level of empathy
that allows you
to spot hurt in the world
in a unique way
YES
my capacity
to empathize has been ignited
and grown wider and deeper
to consistently see, and hear,
and feel, and know
to spot hurt in the world
in a unique way
studying people
seeker of pattern and connection
find my way
pattern recognition skills
visualize
I have unique
pattern recognition skills
enabling me
to create a picture
a captivating story
from a complex set of facts/data
or to piece together
observable
patterned choices, behaviors
and explain them
in ways that are easier to understand
Never
underestimate
the power
of being seen
visible, visibility
I've been professionally coached
on the need to be more visible
not a fan of visibility
for the sake of being visible
but visible with & for purpose
I'm there without hesitation
Don't study this moment
Be in it
human BEing
Fierce and kind
Gentle and tough
paradox, again
God is > Ʌ V
greater than the highs & lows
He's in the muddy middle paradox
and that will be one of my next tattoos
poem
"Our Grandmothers"
I shall not be moved
poems
a spoken word artist
there are several I enjoy listening to
not be moved
a word
that's been very present
in my journey
in early 2020
this is the song
that I literally immersed myself in
during 6 weeks of concussion recovery
and daily epsom salt soaking baths
song. I Won't Move by Life.Church
I won't take a single step
Till I hear Your voice, I surrender
I won't move until You speak
You calm the raging sea
[if you're following my recents posts
you'll know why sea is bold blue]
bend and stretch and grow
but
commit to
not moving
from
who you are
by 2022
moving was different, it was
song. RATTLE!
by Zach Williams & Essential Worship
What happens when God says to move
I feel Him moving it now
I feel Him doing it now
Do it now, do it now
This is the sound
of dry bones rattling
Yeah, this is the praise,
make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I'm coming out
I'm gonna live, gonna live again
organizers
strongly recommended
I wear "business attire"
feeling like an imposter
feeling of playing dress-up
But what can we do?
I'm not here
so my business self
can talk to their business selves
I'm here to talk from my heart
to their hearts
This is who I am
I signed up
and showed up
for a prophetic prayer experience
I think it was January 2019
and I still have the small paper
one of the prayer intercessors
wrote notes about me on
as they listened in the silence
of my presence
which included a line from
song. This is Me!
by Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman
When the sharpest words
wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood,
gonna drown 'em out
I am brave
I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be
This is me
Look out, 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on
to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies
This is me
you'll just need to find one
who will dress up
clean up
and shut up
That's not me
I shall not be moved
show up
as yourself
and talk about yourself
the paradox
of feeling alone
but also strong
started this post
thinking it would be a single entry
about this entire book
and that I'd only share the quotes
not my personal reflections
but that obviously changed course
I made it through chapter 1
and scrolled up
to update my title
to note this is just the start
guaranteed more to come
likely daily, or not
but I'm not going to keep posting a link
to Instagram & Facebook every time
so just keep checking
--tvz
2022-09/15
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