As I breathe the life back into myself, after this long period of grief, I have been faced with challenging questions surrounding life and its meaning. Where do I find purpose? What brings joy into my life and how will I notice when something meaningful is staring me in the eyes.

Will I be brave enough to show up? Sometimes showing up is half the battle, and how I navigate day to day challenges can be the difference between whether or not I feel like I’m heading in the right direction. Bravery, the act of courageousness it takes to show up as you are and accept all the bumps and flaws in the road on the way, does not mean you have no fear, it’s feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

My fears have occasionally gotten the best of me, dulling the sparkling shining parts of myself that only emerge when I have the courage to be disliked, to acknowledge that not everyone will share my perspective or agree, or even understand the things I have to say. But what’s worse is the alternative, never revealing my authentic self, hiding the best parts away wondering why I feel unseen and unheard before realizing, “Oh. I’m supposed to let people in if I want them to get to know me?” Duh. But don’t beat yourself up if you’ve made similar mistakes.

Hiding away can seem like a shield, an act of protection, but the only thing you are guarding yourself from is true connection. And without connection what really is there? I don’t mean you need a significant other or a large friend group, but this connection can be with yourself, the hobbies you love, the great outdoors, or with something else, anything really.

So, my challenge for you, and myself as well, is to be brave enough to show up, as yourself. Though always evolving we are living right here, right now, each moment a powerful new opportunity to connect.