TO BE BRAVE

When I was a kid at preschool, there was a high brick wall that surrounded the little building. Word had it that if you’re standing on top of that brick well, the view would be amazing. I was merely 3-4 feet tall, and the wall was much higher then than it is now. I wanted to see this view. So with the help of another boy (who was a wimp, because he kept cheering me on but refused to get up there himself), I climbed that wall on a fateful sunny day. If my preschool teacher knew I would probably be punished, and if my Dad knew I would probably get spanked. But I climbed it anyway, curious to see what it looks like from the top.

I fell head first and cut my eye so badly that I couldn’t open it properly for days. After that my Dad spanked me. But damn it, the view was really nice from up there.

That was my first recollection of me ever having any sort of bravery.

Bravery comes in many forms. Some are utterly useless, most probably driven by hormones and the need to explore. Once in college my friends and I went for a swim in the open ocean at 4 am. It was fun and I would remember it fondly, but do I think it was reckless bravery? Absolutely. Some are essential to teach you the deeds of growing up, and you would never be who you are today without them. It could be the travels you took alone to see the world, moving to the city miles from home, and even smaller acts like going to the bank alone and managing your own finances.

And some, the last category of bravery, are ones that would alter your lives wonderfully in ways you could never expect for yourself. This bravery requires you stepping out of your comfort zone and into a world unbeknownst to you. They could be as big as making life choices different from the norm that surrounds you, or as subtle as having faith in someone else or something else. As you moght've guessed, only the ones with a good pair would usually ever take up these sorts of bravery. Metaphorically speaking.

I have always found that bravery is essential to my attraction towards people. I am attracted to befriend strong women who show gusto about ploughing through challenges in life with a steady bravery. Unknown people on social media who are living a life I could only fantasize – leaving everything they ever knew and going on a journey to find themselves. And of course, men who are self-assured and brave enough to make their own life choices despite fitting in or not.

Sometimes I would lose sight of my bravery. This could be due to a number of things – past falls, the fear of being let down, intimidation of being different, or another world I am not familiar with. Whatever the reason is, I would divert my thoughts to that girl in preschool who cut her eye and got spanked just so that she could see the view. It reminds me that falling or stumbling will always be the part and parcel of being brave, but it would always be worth it in the end.