Bravery Is a Verb

And my eight-year-old niece has given a masterclass on it.

In June 2022, my then-six-year-old niece shared a little idea with me. She wanted to become an author when she grew up. I told her she didn’t need to wait, and that day, her tiny idea became a big dream. Since that day, she and I have taken hundreds of brave, beautiful, and bold steps together to make her dream a reality.

Our book is now out, making waves, and we are on a mission to impact one million lives. You can find that incredible chapter of the story here. It’s for you if you have a dream so big that it intimidates you a little.

Of all the brave steps on this journey, Dinah starting her book tour at school has impacted me the most.

She’s shown me that bravery is a verb. That bravery doesn’t come to life on journal pages or by reciting affirmations repeatedly. It happens when we take action - even a tiny step at a time.

“Bravery is a verb. A way of approaching life.”

In October of this year, the first step of her book tour was to bring the proof copy to her teacher. That morning, I received a text from my sister letting me know that it had been tough to get the book into her backpack. Dinah cried and, between tears, told her mom, “I’m not brave enough to share it with the whole class yet, mommy.”

My sister assured her that no one besides the teacher would see it. That worked for her, and the book went into her backpack.

Below is the timeline of Dinah’s brave journey, as shared by her teacher. This spanned a month.

• Teacher reads the book with Dinah standing nearby and only to select individuals.

• Dinah reads the book to one select student.

• Dinah allows the teacher’s assistant to read the book to the class. Dinah is present and interacts with the students.

• Dinah is invited to a first-grade class. She asks a classmate to join her and reads the book to the students.

• A flyer is created with Dinah’s approval to invite a district office board member for a reading.

• Dinah reads her book to a third-grade class alone!

• Dinah goes to two 6th-grade classrooms with her teacher to read the book.

Every step of the way, she inspired students and teachers. Her journey impacted and inspired others! The true “win” is what she learned about herself with each step and who she became in the process.

She now updates me weekly about how she’s “impacting others” at her school, and we’re just getting started.

As we approach the end of 2023, consider making 2024 the year you will no longer allow self-doubt, fear, or the limiting beliefs of anyone to get in your way.

Possibly, the tiniest step you can take towards that is to accept my invitation to go all in and believe in YOU!

“In 2024, I will not allow self-doubt, fear, or the limiting beliefs of anyone, including me, to get in my way.”