In the midst of the drama of my past life, a friend sent me a necklace that said, “Be Brave” on it. I remember hanging it on the mirror in my bathroom so I could see it every day, but thinking, I’m not brave.
She sent it to me as a symbol of what was possible and I read it as a reminder of what I was not.
Brave.
I don’t know if it’s possible for someone to define bravery by actions that we do or do not take. I do know that being brave for me and my story didn’t involve me leaving.
I always stayed…I stayed until the last possible second. Holding onto hope that things would change. Thinking that if I could love a little harder or give a little more of myself it would make a difference.
I always wanted love to win. I always wanted to give the person I was in love with the benefit of the doubt and I always saw the side of them that wasn’t shitty or mean or unfaithful.
For me, being brave was staying.
I held back from coaching on this for quite awhile because I felt I couldn’t help people because I never left. But the truth is, I can help more people because I know what it’s like to stay and will love and support you through that and I also can love and support you if you choose to leave.
Both scenarios equal bravery.
Whichever path you are on right now, know that it’s the right one for you in this moment. You can choose to stay or choose to leave, that is your power.
You are brave.
If you want to chat about it, send me a message. I can help you work through it and discover what being brave means to you.
