all you have to do is be brave and kind…
March 19, 2012
photo by the amazing Meghan McSweeney
I am reading your notes…so many notes. You all are holding so much, but I wonder if we all are…in our own way.
I am amazed by you, and have so much respect. Every night, before I go to bed I think about you all and sometimes wonder what you look like or how your day was, or imagine what we all had for dinner, or hoped your car started, or that the job came through, or that you scraped up enough for rent, or your results from the chemo were good, or that someone called, or that you passed the test, or that you had a kick ass St. Patrick’s day, or that you made up with your dad, or that you didn’t feel so alone tonight.
Then I think about the picture the editors at Huffington Post picked to be the cover photo of the article… it was a picture of some graffiti on a wall, it read- all you have to do is be brave and kind, and love the trees. I searched and searched looking for the author, someone to give credit to for these sweet words because I am holding them so close today.
It’s all we have to do- be brave and kind. And for some reason, that feels like something I can do (even if it isn’t pretty or graceful), even just for today and maybe even tomorrow. It doesn’t say things will be easy or even work out but I am discovering it may be more about how you find you in whatever is thrown your way, good or bad, big or small, no matter what…
Kindness has always come so easily to me….but bravery, well, I often think, “Awww, crap, the universe is going to ask me to be brave?!!”
I resist bravery, because I don’t always believe it is in me…but the truth is, it’s in everyone. It’s in being vulnerable, in realizing the truth (about yourself and others), in handing it over when it weighs too much, in allowing yourself to be loved, in holding something hard so you can see, in standing up tall, in receiving, in forgiving, in stepping in or out, in relentlessly walking the path (even while tripping), in holding love.
…and it’s all so complicated anyway, and yet really, really simple…anyone can be brave, and anyone can be kind.
it’s all we have to do.
we are writing, writing, writing notes…but until then, feel free to share about what is asking you to be kind and brave in the comments today.
Kindnessgirl 
March 19, 2012 at 10:02 am
Oh sweet Patience! This post…I learn so much from your beautiful writing. It opens my heart, my mind, and inspires me. Thank you for this today…and everyday. Love to you xxoo
March 19, 2012 at 10:28 am
Brave is a word that has come up for me multiple times this past week. It is tough for me to be brave. I need to be reminded all of the time
March 19, 2012 at 12:07 pm
This makes me think of one of my favorite quotes:
“Courage doesn´t always roar, sometimes it is the voice at the end of the day saying, i will try again tomorrow.”
March 19, 2012 at 12:17 pm
I haven’t needed to be brave today so much as be kind. I can see I was on the wrong side of aggravation … then I read your inspiring post and that simply sweet statement about being brave and kind (wrote it on my white board for all to see) and had an amazing attitude adjustment. Sometimes a little is needed and your writings just really put thoughts back into the ‘right’ order. That little nudge. As always, thank you Patience.
March 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm
This touched my soul today. Thank you Patience. 🙂
March 19, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Reblogged this on pathwriter and commented:
Such thoughtful tenderness.
March 20, 2012 at 1:15 am
Just gorgeous! Thank you
March 20, 2012 at 5:22 am
One sentence to live by. Profound! Simple!
March 20, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I’m not sure if this would work as credit for the quote, but I found this song. Look at the lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/national/babywellbefine.html
And, of course, thanks for all you inspire us to do and think about!
Lauren
March 21, 2012 at 7:00 am
brave…hmmm…screening and removing inappropriate letters sent from my mother to my 10 year old daughter in her birthday card. having the courage not to respond, not to let it bother me (yeah, right) and instead to focus on my beautiful daughter. yes, she turned 10 yesterday, P, can you believe it? remembering that the mentally ill deserve our prayers too even when they try to injure again and again and again.
March 21, 2012 at 7:29 pm
you are my guardian angel on this earth…you inspire me to be a better person, parent, partner in my community, friendships and family.
I adore you,
Trish
March 27, 2012 at 5:46 am
Today I need to be brave because I am 8 months pregnant and I have no idea how a mother is supposed to love her child. (I didn’t have the best example.) And every time I start to feel really overwhelmed by the love I already have for this kid, I get scared to death and back off it. And I don’t want to do that anymore, for her sake. So today I need to be brave enough to really love her the way I already do.
January 25, 2014 at 6:27 pm
[…] be, we both knew Be Brave and Kind would be part of what we wanted in the world (I wrote about it here first). …and yet it feels more like part of our dream is that this art would bring people […]