National Brave Day

This may surprise many of my friends but I’m not a “I am woman, hear me roar” type of woman. There are many factors as to why I am not but when I learned about a national day from the website NationalDayCalendar.com called National Brave Day I decided to explore my view on womanhood a little further.

I had clicked on the link for National Brave Day because I was curious as to how one would celebrate this day. I was surprised when I read that it was founded in order to honor women. I was expecting “brave” to refer to all Armed Forces, police and fire departments, you know, the usual brave citizens that help us sleep better at night. Here’s what I learned:

“The Sweetlife Women founded National BRAVE Day in 2017 in honor of their founder, Kaci Stewart. She has been the catalyst for making a difference in women’s lives. By honoring their founder, Sweetlife Women hopes the observance will be a spark of encouragement to women and a reminder to strengthen one another. Sweetlife Women has been in existence for ten years, and they look for ways to make women BRAVE and give help and guidance where needed. Their annual BRAVE Women’s Conference is every September. Find out more by visiting braveconference.cc” - Nationaldaycalendar.com.

To further my point about not being an “I am woman” type, you’re not going to hear me shouting from the mountain top that I am an Asian business woman because I don’t think it’s necessary for me to receive accolades from my peers in order for me to feel equal or superior to men. I also do not feel the need to conquer the stigma that women are victims because I am far from being a victim. So to me, this Brave Day, that is dedicated to women, is different. When I read about the founding purpose of the day, I envision it more of a sisterhood or women helping women. In other words, I do not think it’s a day in which we celebrate women being brave enough to stand up for themselves and stop white men from ruling the country.

What I have discovered while exploring this national day is that I am more of a “Mother Hen” type. When I think a woman needs to hear something positive, I try to make the time to send them a thoughtful pinch. For instance, pregnant women. I remember being pregnant and feeling yucky because I have had a history with body issues all my life and being pregnant takes that yucky to the highest level. So when I see pregnant women doing their best just to be free of puke in their hair and not feel larger than an elephant, I reach out to them. I want them to know that I see them and I think they are beautiful and brave. Brave describes both women in this instance - for the women to be pregnant and for the other woman (me) to acknowledge their situation. I want to share some brave moments (which go hand in hand with thoughtfulness) through written examples because some of us may think about others but to actually take the time to say something is what makes us brave.

What is my way of brave pinching? Here’s the text I sent to a Broncos player’s wife who is pregnant with baby #3: “Hi! Just wanted to tell you that you looked very beautiful last night. Glowing from head to toe. Carrying the prince around for a little longer, you look naturally beautiful. Keep up the date nights! -barb.” Or I sent another player’s wife a text letting her know that she looked very put together at our family event this weekend. She was glad to hear that because she is raising two kids, has a career and is supporting her hub - she’s just trying to stay above water. Or telling a grieving woman that it was ok that she made a mistake giving me the wrong numbers of her cellphone even though she’s had the same number for 20 years. Or understanding a mom who said no to a volunteering opportunity after she felt overwhelmed because she just dropped her first born off at college. Or telling the founder of a non-profit that if she is just herself when she speaks to a large group of people, everyone will accept that she is nervous and they will give her more than grace - they will love her!

And so in learning about this national day, my idea of what brave is has been updated. From now on I will include women who support other women in addition to the other brave souls who serve our country. Back in the quilting days, women may not have talked about their problems as openly as we do these days but sitting around talking as they quilted was a support group. The village or the tribe reference is real even to this day and age. I’m totally ok with calling the action of leaning on someone brave because it is brave. It’s better than being alone. It’s better than falling. Accepting help, a compliment, advice, support from another woman is brave.

Neighborhood women gathering. It was meant to be that I wrote this post. This text came at a time when I was thinking of women supporting women.

I have many groups of brave women in my life - my parent education class, my MN tribe, the Pellicer women cousins, dance moms, hockey moms, football moms and now, it seems like I will be in a neighborhood women’s group. It’s safe to say that I am surrounded by brave women who help other women.

My Pellicer Cousins came together for my 50th birthday and Thoughtful Pinch App launch in August 2019.

So every year on the fourth Thursday in September, this year it will be on September 22nd, celebrate National Brave Day by being brave. Simply have the guts to tell another woman that they look good. Be the shoulder for another woman to lean on. Rescue a bestie from feeling down about themselves. Guide a female in a positive way. We can be thoughtful in accomplishing all of this without needing to step over males or roaring loudly.

Pinches,

Barb