Today in the Inspired series, we are hearing from another blogger favorite of mine, Bailey of Brave Love. Bailey is a girl who gets around! She has been busily moving over the last couple of months, first from Seattle to Texas and now to Oklahoma for grad school. She is kind enough to share her journey and goals with her readers in a very honest way all while giving praise to God.
I'm excited to have her here to share about a person who inspires her to be authentic. Take it away, Bailey...
You may not know this,
but I am an actress. I have devoted the past nine years to pursuing theatre,
telling stories as authentically and beautifully as I can. Along the way I have
encountered many unique and memorable characters, and I'm not just talking about
the ones in my scripts. Theatre people are among the most uniquely wired
individuals, each with a story of their own and a knack for inviting you into
the worlds of others.
What was startling to
me when I first jumped into this world and profession were the acts said
theatre people maintained in their daily lives. Many, but not all, kept up a
front that made it hard to get to know the deepest parts of them, the
vulnerable places that tie hearts and hands together. We're performers by
nature, always wanting to be the best or biggest version of ourselves.
Sometimes it's hard to let that guard down. We're told to be perfect, and it
feels dangerous to be anything less than.
Two years ago I met a
beautiful young woman named Devin, and I am not exaggerating when I say she has
changed my life. I say she is beautiful because there is no other word to
describe this gal and her heart. Actually, come to think of it, authentic would
be my only other choice. No one loves, lives, feels, or breathes as deeply as
she does. Devin is my grand-little. In our college theatre department the
freshmen are given a big brother/sister figure each year, and she is part of my
theatre family. Devin swept me away with her easy flowing laughter, her
desire for life at its fullest, and the sensitivity with which she sees this
world and those in it. Five minutes with the girl and I knew I wanted to be her
when I grew up.
No one has made me
feel as safe, beautiful, or valued as she has. Whether it was on a
post-rehearsal frozen yogurt date where she knew every student that walked
through the door or one of our many midnight tears-and-prayer sessions in the dorm parking lot, she was never
less than fully herself.
On my blog, I have
written several times about what I think it means to "be you,
bravely." I've asked others and gathered many opinions, and over time I
have learned that I feel most free to be bravely me, to be truly authentic,
when someone else steps out first. I can't pinpoint it to one conversation, but
Devin paved the way for me to be unapologetically myself, emotions, fears,
dreams and all. An inspiration in many ways, she is also immensely
talented (and humble) musically. I have spent many days lying on her couch,
listening to her play and sing (listen to Devin here. She has a gorgeous voice!), and her songs have brought encouragement in
many of my recent seasons. The lyrics are rich and straight from the soul, and
I'd have to say it is brave of her to put her heart on the line like that. But
she does it again and again, and it works more wonders than she probably knows.
Don't we all want
that? To be truly authentic and unapologetic? Graceful, humble, and impactful?
I know I do. But I often find myself waiting. If I am in a room full of
strangers, or even at coffee with one other person, I hesitate. I hold my
breath and wait for them to drop the drawbridge first. But what if we knocked
down our walls without a second thought? What if we paved the way for others to
be authentic by letting them in to our worlds first? Oh, what a powerful thing
that would be!
Think about it. Next
time you're at coffee and someone asks you, "How are you?" really
answer them. Lay it out there. Trust your gut on this obviously, but if you
trust them, let them in. Don't wave it off with a "I'm busy but
fine," or "Eh, I'm okay." Pull people into your circle. You need
everyone in the fighting ring with you that you can get. Then maybe, just
maybe, they will let the wall down, too. Your bravery, your authenticity will
show them there is hope, strength, and freedom to be had. And maybe together
you can build one another up, using the stones from those same walls to build a
platform, a stand onto which you can gather others on too. A tidal wave of
authenticity. Wouldn't that be something!
Beautiful, Bailey! Thank you for sharing with us today and good luck in grad school! :)
You guys should go check out Brave Love, and have a wonderful Wednesday!
-Song
Oh my goodness! Bailey is attending my Alma Mater! And, I'll be living in OK this time next week. What a small world. I really loved this post, Bailey and Anna. There is so much to be said, and to be discussed, on the topic of authenticity, and I loved this perspective. "How are you?" is a hard question to answer honestly. It's easy to give the vague or generic answer, but going beyond that is the only way we grow in our relationships. I love Bailey's advice to let your guard down first, and not wait for others to "lower the draw bridge". Thank you for sharing, Bailey! And say hello to OSU for me! I loved it there.
ReplyDeleteHey Jenny! I know, that's one of her points that jumped out at me the most...being vulnerable first is so hard, but it often deepens your connection with someone and makes it easier for them to open up. I hope your move preparations are going well! I'll be praying for a safe and happy transition! :)
DeleteThank you so much!
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