Loved and related to this so much Penny. I was fearless in my late teens/early 20’s! I think there is something about tough, formative teenage years that makes everything clearer. I always try to hold on to the fact I’m going to die, so just do the thing!? (Circumstance and responsibility makes that much harder sometimes, but I have to believe there’s a way through otherwise what’s the point?) Can’t wait to see your creative bravery pay off ❤️
Thank you for this heartfelt reminder as to why leaps of faith, daring to believe & stepping out of your lane are all so very necessary, if we are to embrace a full life that permits knocks & wrong turns along the way. My younger self was far more courageous and I need to find her again. :)
Indeed. I really need to harness a previously fearless approach where I never gave a thought to agonising over all that could go wrong and just set sail to my dreams. Instead I spend these middling years catastrophising & applying way too much caution.
It is so hard - we know so much about what can go wrong now! I try and offer that part of myself some compassion before gently telling her to back off - ha!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this! I have just written my first ever Substack post (which I procrastinated on for months) – and 'bravery' was the theme that emerged. I used to be so brave and I want to feel that courageousness again. Funnily enough, as soon as I hit 'publish', all my fear of being judged melted away and I felt relief – no, joy – at having shared the words I'd written, at having let go of them. As the saying goes, "If you wish to be a writer, write."
I'm a big fan of your Substack – I hope you realise how encouraging it is. Thank you.
“And is anything difficult after you’ve done the most difficult thing - try and keep someone you love alive? What is moving countries compared to that?” - My exact mindset when I moved to the U.K. after I’d cared for my mum and she’d passed away. I’d already been in a life and death situation, could it get any worse? 🩷
This is beautiful, and it touches on something we don’t talk about enough - bravery can fade, and as we get older it can become harder to dig deep and find it.
YES! I love this perspective shift of listening to our younger selves and what lights us up. I also lived in five different countries by the time I was 26 and I feel so risk-adverse now. But then again, I also immigrated to a new country and switched careers and took a leap of faith into self-employment. Good luck on the new project!
Great piece, can really relate this. I often wonder where my younger braver self went? Though I find these days that the longer term pain and discomfort of regret at not having tried, far outweighs the shorter term comfort of not doing the scary thing. I've tried and failed at many things, but having tried gives me self respect. Very best of luck with your new creative project xx
Loved and related to this so much Penny. I was fearless in my late teens/early 20’s! I think there is something about tough, formative teenage years that makes everything clearer. I always try to hold on to the fact I’m going to die, so just do the thing!? (Circumstance and responsibility makes that much harder sometimes, but I have to believe there’s a way through otherwise what’s the point?) Can’t wait to see your creative bravery pay off ❤️
There is always a way through! Even if it doesn't look the way we want to to look
Thank you for this heartfelt reminder as to why leaps of faith, daring to believe & stepping out of your lane are all so very necessary, if we are to embrace a full life that permits knocks & wrong turns along the way. My younger self was far more courageous and I need to find her again. :)
Thank goodness for our young brave selves eh?! They remind us what we are capable of ❤️
Indeed. I really need to harness a previously fearless approach where I never gave a thought to agonising over all that could go wrong and just set sail to my dreams. Instead I spend these middling years catastrophising & applying way too much caution.
It is so hard - we know so much about what can go wrong now! I try and offer that part of myself some compassion before gently telling her to back off - ha!
Can totally relate to the post and this comment...💖
Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this! I have just written my first ever Substack post (which I procrastinated on for months) – and 'bravery' was the theme that emerged. I used to be so brave and I want to feel that courageousness again. Funnily enough, as soon as I hit 'publish', all my fear of being judged melted away and I felt relief – no, joy – at having shared the words I'd written, at having let go of them. As the saying goes, "If you wish to be a writer, write."
I'm a big fan of your Substack – I hope you realise how encouraging it is. Thank you.
Congrats!!! That’s so exciting 🥰❤️
Love this. Thank you for the reminder x
Ooof I needed to read this today. Thank you x
Can you tell I've had to give myself a talking to multiple times this week? ha!
“And is anything difficult after you’ve done the most difficult thing - try and keep someone you love alive? What is moving countries compared to that?” - My exact mindset when I moved to the U.K. after I’d cared for my mum and she’d passed away. I’d already been in a life and death situation, could it get any worse? 🩷
I don’t think this aspect of caring is talked about much - it can make us SO brave ❤️
This is beautiful, and it touches on something we don’t talk about enough - bravery can fade, and as we get older it can become harder to dig deep and find it.
Yes, so agree! As my 20-something reminds me daily...Just leap! Figure out the details later.
Thanks Penny. Very timely for me to read this right now.
YES! I love this perspective shift of listening to our younger selves and what lights us up. I also lived in five different countries by the time I was 26 and I feel so risk-adverse now. But then again, I also immigrated to a new country and switched careers and took a leap of faith into self-employment. Good luck on the new project!
"And is anything difficult after you’ve done the most difficult thing - try and keep someone you love alive?"
From someone who's been through the exact same at 23, I feel this deeply x
Adore this. And see you as always brave. Xx
Great piece, can really relate this. I often wonder where my younger braver self went? Though I find these days that the longer term pain and discomfort of regret at not having tried, far outweighs the shorter term comfort of not doing the scary thing. I've tried and failed at many things, but having tried gives me self respect. Very best of luck with your new creative project xx
Yes x