I didn’t ask to be brave.
I didn’t want to carry this kind of strength.
I wanted my soft life. My love. My family whole. My partner by my side.
But life had other plans.
And now… here I am, doing things I never thought I could.
Navigating grief, raising kids, making decisions, rebuilding life.
All with shaky hands and a heart that still breaks in private.
The Bravery No One Talks About
It’s not the kind of bravery they cheer for.
It’s the quiet kind.
The kind that doesn’t come with applause or recognition.
It’s getting out of bed when everything hurts.
It’s showing up for the kids with a soft voice even when your soul is screaming.
It’s sitting at the dinner table with an empty chair and still passing the potatoes.
It’s saying no to things that drain you, and yes to boundaries that protect you.
Grief doesn’t just make you sad.
It remakes you. It refines you.
And whether you asked for it or not, it makes you brave.
What Bravery Has Looked Like for Me:
• Calling the funeral home… and then calling the light company the next day
• Sleeping alone for the first time in years
• Signing school papers while trying not to cry at the “parent signature” line, knowing the second line will be empty
• Laughing again and allowing myself to feel joy without guilt
• Booking the trip, saying yes to help, learning how to ask for more
I didn’t become fearless.
I just learned to keep moving even when afraid.
To the Ones Who’ve Been Called “Strong”
I see you.
The ones who keep showing up even when they don’t feel ready.
The ones who cry in the car, then straighten up before walking into work.
The ones who’ve held their families together with nothing but faith and grace.
If you’ve ever whispered, “I don’t want to be strong today,” know this: that whisper is brave too.
Your Bravery Isn’t Just Survival
It’s choosing healing.
It’s saying, “I miss them” and “I’m still here.”
It’s becoming something new in the ruins of what was.
You don’t have to do it all to be brave.
You just have to keep choosing yourself, one breath at a time.
With love for every tear you’ve turned into strength,
La 💙
