overcoming fears

boots | leather overalls dress | top | hat | earrings | similar bag | watch

The last time I posted some pictures from this same hotel rooftop in NYC, I got emails from several of you screaming (virtually) for me to get the ___ down. As someone who's very much afraid of heights, no-one was more shocked than me that I stood so many stories up, pressed against nothing but some measly glass, taking pictures without having a panic attack. I honestly wasn't the least bit afraid, and I have no clue why. Maybe it was the exhaustion and lack of brain registration of "hey, you could fall thirty stories to your death" (morbid much, Britt?). Whatever it was, I'm glad that these photos were captured because the next time I'm totally losing my marbles on a bridge or rollercoaster, I can show these pictures proudly. I did it once without acting like a crazy person.

When it comes to fears, I'm not one for attempting to overcome them. I'm more happy shying away from the things I'm afraid of than tackling them head on. But the more I think about that, the more I want to do things differently. I don't want Bear to cower away from the things he's scared of in this world; I want him to "grab life by the horns" (thanks, Dodge). I want him to know that by challenging himself and overcoming his fears, he will only grow more as a person and achieve bigger, better things. Now if he's afraid of motorcycles and four-wheelers and things of that nature, by all means I pray that he stays away. But if he's afraid of trying out for the debate team or playing a new sport or standing up for what he believes in, I hope he always pushes through.

I want to be a better example of what it means to push down walls and tackle those inner "you can't" and "you shouldn't" voices that we all so often hear. Almost every time I'm afraid of doing something, it's self-inflicted from a past experience. From now on, I'm making a promise to myself to show my fears who's boss, starting this weekend at the Pinners Conference. Speaking in front of 350 people is definitely out of my comfort zone, even though I do enjoy public speaking and talking about all things fashion. I hope Bear sees that Mommy is stepping outside of her comfort zone to pursue her dreams, and I hope he knows that his goals & dreams can be as big as he wants them to be. As my little boy grows up, I want him to stand on the proverbial ledge without being afraid to fall. 

I love this Maya Angelou quote: "Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, 'I have fallen, but I will get up'."

xo, Britt