On a risk

I’m swimming today

In case you think being brave looks like slaying dragons

It doesn’t

It looks like preparing

It looks like meeting with mentors

It looks like texts that encourage at the right time

It looks like just putting one foot in front of the other

A big deep breath

Trust

Faith

In case you think being brave feels powerful, confident, sure, and strong

It doesn’t

It feels fear-full

It feels scared

It feels raw

Nervous

Fluttering

Unsure

In case you think being brave sounds like knowing all the answers

It doesn’t

It sounds like talking yourself out of wishing that meeting would be cancelled

It sounds a little like faking confidence

It sounds like not needing all the facts

But needing all your passion

It sounds like sharing that passion

Being authentic

A little shaky

Loud heartbeats

You

But the world needs me to be brave like that

And the world needs you to be brave like that too