Brazen like a MOTHA!

by

Jasmine Myers
I am brazen.

This isn’t something I’ve always realized, though.

So much of my life, I’ve struggled with what seemed to me to be my reckless desire to live outside of society’s expectations for a woman.

Since I was 20 years old, I’ve walked in and out of entrepreneurship, a brazen act in and of itself, but even as I did it, I always carried an apology with me.

“I’m sorry,” I would tell my husband, my family members, my friends. “I wish I could work a typical 9-5, earn a freaking paycheck, and just be normal.”

I believed that my desire to chase my “crazy schemes” was a character flaw and that, at best, I was impractical.

Worse, I was embarrassed by my ambition. It takes audacity — or brazenness, if you will — to believe that YOU can make something absolutely amazing out of, well, nothing.

And, then, there was the fear. What if I failed? This was the thing that kept me from ever fully committing and just going all in on my big ideas.

Until recently.

I am infertile, and a couple of years ago, my husband and I miraculously conceived and then lost the pregnancy.

It was devastating, but it was also illuminating. Experiencing something so crushing in a way that a mere professional failure could nver be brought my life into clearer focus.

I realized then that I’d been holding back all my life.

As women, we live in a world where too often men are slapped on the back for conquest and accomplishment and women are defamed for the same. For years, I have been so afraid of unacceptance that I resisted the urge in my heart to brazenly shine my light, but what I’ve learned is that the world needs that light.

To me, being brazen means being who you are, putting yourself out to the wide world without apology or preamble. It is a gift to everyone around you to be enthusiastically, fearlessly, and audaciously yourself. When we do that, it changes our lives, yes, but more even than that, our authenticity and brazenness has the power to change the world.

 

 

Jasmine Myers blogs at Blissfully Bama & is proud owner of the inspirational boutique jewelry line bama + ry. For more on Jasmine,like on Facebook,follow on Twitter, or get on the“Bliss of the Week” list for jewelry discounts.

 

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Comments

  1. Great post. So true too. We all hold back out of fear. Well I LOVE the bama+ry FitBloggin charm I have, so thanks for the reminder to head to the shop and see what else I’d like.

  6. I love this especially: It is a gift to everyone around you to be enthusiastically, fearlessly, and audaciously yourself.
    Don’t we all love our crazy, audacious, brazen friends?

  7. I love this – ” It is a gift to everyone around you to be enthusiastically, fearlessly, and audaciously yourself. When we do that, it changes our lives, yes, but more even than that, our authenticity and brazenness has the power to change the world.” So true. Thank you for sharing your brazeness with us.

  8. as someone who has talked themselves into jobs she may not be traditionally qualified for, and who MOST OF THE TIME could not care less what others think of what I am doing, this is a solid and strong message I can get behind.

    some of the most effective life moments are born from difficulty; I know this too. Jasmine you are a beautiful inspiration.

  10. I love that you stuck with your entrepreneurial ideas and turned your dreams into successes!!! I didn’t know that I had any type of business dreams until this past year when we bought a business and now I want to turn it into the best business it can be!

  14. My mom flew airplanes, played ice hockey and tennis and then got married and had four kids.
    Her brazen-ness never disappeared, but it was squelched somewhat.
    As we all grew up she took solitary train trips across the country to visit us.
    At 86, I took her to Alaska-a trip she always wanted to do.

    Myself, I have worked in public education for almost 40 years, but have raised a daughter single-handedly, put her through school, and just bought a new retirement home. Me. By myself. (Hubby chipped in).

    I think women need to be fiscally independent to truly be brazen.
    If you are following your “dreams” on someone else’s nickel, then you truly aren’t what “brazen” means.

  15. I absolutely love this. Fear is a major road block in keeping us from our authentic selves! I spent most of my teens and 20’s trying to be what I thought I ‘should’ be, and making apologies jumping into uncharted waters and making plenty of mistakes for all sorts of reasons! I love reading about women like you that keep following your dreams. Inspirational! Thanks so much! I am also so sorry for your loss, it must have been an emotional roller coaster.

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