I love these words by Mara Glatzel:

“The trick of a lifetime is the story that
we have to already know how to do something perfectly before we commit ourselves to it.
That we should rehearse in secret, working things out on our own lest someone should see and judge us for our imperfections.
That we should somehow know better or be better magically on our own without sweat or struggle.
That our imperfections and mucking around are moral failings instead of essential parts of being a human and living our lives as best we can….
Today I am celebrating the things I am practicing out loud and in the light of day that feel terrifically and terrifyingly raw, vulnerable, and new.
I am celebrating our individual and collective choice to be ourselves on purpose and to bravely allow other people to see and hear us – before we feel ready.
I am raising my coffee cup to the messy glory of learning in front of people and knowing that even when it makes me want to hide under a blanket, I simply wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“The messy glory of learning in front of people…” How beautiful is that?

I’ve read these words many times in the past week, mulling them over, letting their freeing wisdom sink deep into my wobbly soul.

“…practicing out loud…”

These words are such a gift to me. Even though I’m a fully-fledged grown-up, I often feel like I’m still practicing so much of life: marriage, work, finances, farm, self-care, etc. And I think that’s why I love these words. They take the pressure off, release the build-up of expectation and trying to do it all and be the best me I can be.

They let me be what I am: human. Beautifully, messily human. Wobbling along through life, quite astonished when I get things right, rolling my eyes when I mess up for the umpteenth time, so grateful for innumerable second chances to try again.

“be ourselves on purpose…”

This phrase makes me grin.

And sometimes get a little teary when it highlights ways in which I’ve betrayed myself, taken on the ideals or priorities or values of someone else because I was too scared to stick to my guns.

Then grin again because it’s never too late to return to our funny ol’ selves.

The other morning I needed all these reminders:

Be myself on purpose.
Practice out loud.
Embrace the messy glory of learning in front of people.

I went out to my gardens for a bit of grounding and inspiration and, most of all, courage. I stopped in my tracks and smiled when I saw the borage flowering at last, for borage is the flower of courage.

I like learning about the history of plants, and this plant is particularly lovely. It is used to give you the courage to be yourself, to help you feel safe. After a long illness, borage tea renews strength. It can be used as an eyewash to soothe inflammation and soreness, or gargled to relieve a sore throat.

Renews strength, helps you to see clearly, helps you speak, imparts courage, makes you feel safe.

What a beautiful plant for those of us ready to be ourselves on purpose, practicing out loud, in all our messy glory. xo