what does it mean to be brave? many different things to many different people i would guess. a few (well, many) years ago, i read something to the effect that being brave doesn't mean a person is not frightened, it means that a person proceeds even in the face of fear...

i've never had to be brave the way many woman have had to when dealing with a life threatening physical illness. i've never had to battle cancer, or live with ms, or....
summoning up the will to fight for one's life in that arena takes bravery...

but i think many women are brave in so many other ways too.....

sometimes, it's the bravery of a women's decision to bring a child into this world despite her fears about not being able to be the best parent....
sometimes it's found in a woman's difficult decision to not bring a child into this world....

i see bravery in women who make decisions to put parts of their lives on hold in order to provide what they think is the best life for their children....
and i see bravery in in women who realize that they also need to live their lives and their truths even though it is hard for others...

there is bravery in women who have fallen to their knees, but who don't give up, and find a way to stand up again....
there is bravery in women who share their stories, their lows in life, their insecurities, their vulnerabilties...

what is bravery to me?...sometimes it's seen the will to believe that no matter how bad today is, there will be a tomorrow, and it has so many possibilities.....

and, as for me....i am learning that this life is far too short to allow fear or trepidation to confine me anymore....

j.