Be BRAVE

I noticed today is National Brave Day... My mind wandered as I thought about that word. Over the past few months, I have heard it many times, but I can honestly say that I had never really been called brave or referred to as brave in year's past. After opting to have a preventative mastectomy a few months ago (in an effort to reduce my chances of breast cancer) people started using that word. Even when I was in the hospital the prep nurse said it, multiple people said it to me as they were rolling me into the operating room, my close friends mentioned it when I was in recovery. In the beginning I would tear up, because I didn't think I was brave, I was just doing what I thought I needed to do. Looking at the risk and the possibility of being diagnosed with breast cancer in my lifetime, I wanted to reduce the risk as much as possible. I had never broken a bone or had a surgery before, so perhaps that was brave to take this preventative step toward saving my life. 

But as I did more research, I found that this day is not about bravery in the literal sense of the word. It is about women supporting other women and offering empowerment. This is something that I have found to be a constant struggle. Why is it that often times women seek to bring each other down? In many of the careers that I've had, I always felt a burden, competitiveness and a lack of support, kindness, sincerity and overall void of empowerment from other women. Especially in management, I always seemed to encounter women who sought to bring me down, demote me, complain about me or even ignore me. I have thought long and hard about this and I have had numerous conversations with men and women about this very topic. Even as a panelist at the Wahine Forum back in 2015 I spoke about it and it truly resonated with the audience. 

So here's what National Brave Day is about:
​
NATIONAL BRAVE DAY
​On the fourth Friday in September, National BRAVE Day honors women who lift each other up, rescue each other and make each other BRAVE.
Sometimes just a flutter of encouragement comes in the form of timely guidance from another woman.  Other times, it’s provided through the coordinated, thoughtful efforts of those who identified someone in need.  Women empowering women.

Despite varied experiences and backgrounds, women come together across generations to support each other.  Whether it’s a momentary reprieve over a cup of coffee during a hectic day or a well-written letter of recommendation for a job, these small tokens strengthen a woman who may have undergone unspoken tragedy or struggles. The opportunities to empower sisters, friends, family, even a stranger are limitless.  On National BRAVE Day, the goal is to seek out tangible ways to encourage women to keep moving forward and to be BRAVE.

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.
In 2017, the Registrar at National Day Calendar® declared National BRAVE Day to be observed the fourth Thursday in September, annually.


Lets come together as one and support, love and honor each other - men, women and all of those who are BRAVE today and everyday. 

---