I have to admit that coming back from Brave Girl Camp has been an emotional roller coaster ride.
It has been hard to find a rhythm this week.
Hard to do school, laundry, pay bills and even create.
I think I have been walking around like a shell of a person because I keep thinking about the amazing women I met. Their stories. Their pain and their bravery.
I really miss them.
It seems so strange to say that when I was only with them for 4 1/2 days. I miss the laughter…man…did we laugh! I miss the creativity. I think I just miss the chance to be still and listen to who we are.
One of the most powerful writing exercises for me during the camp was the day we made our promises book.
I don't think I have EVER written promises to myself.
It is the only exercise that made me cry. Not because it was hard….because it was precious.
I felt like I was making promises to myself as a little girl….and that I would fight for her…I would support her…I would believe in her dreams.
I then went on to write promises to each of my three children, my husband and then our marriage.
Even if you just set the timer for 5 minutes and write all the promises you can think of that you want to make to yourself and those you love….it will change your heart. When is the last time you listened to your heart? Do we even know what our hearts are desiring? We are so busy that if we don't stop every once in a while…we forget.
If you have been reading the posts that I have written about the camp….you know that it was beautiful. I knew it would be. Melody is all about heart…so I knew there was no way I was going to leave without my heart being changed.
Sometimes you just need a little quiet to hear the truths, make the promises and remember that you were born to fly.
(incredible book created by Melody Ross)
Not endure, not survive….THRIVE!
Even in the middle of pain, change, heartbreak, disappointment.
We have the power to make the choices that set us free.
I believe that the things I can't handle that the Lord is right beside me holding my hand, lifting me up, carrying me.
You don't have to believe what I believe to know that we can't control all of our circumstances…but we can control how we react to them.
Melody said over and over that she has learned to "Go To Where The Peace Is".
Notice that she didn't say happiness.
Happiness is fleeting. Peace is real.
Peace is knowing when you put your head on the pillow at night that your words did not hurt anyone that day, lies did not come out of your mouth, you paid attention to your husband and children, you were careful with your money, you encouraged a friend, you made time for yourself, you nurtured relationships around you.
Peace may be saying "no" to a lot of things we have been saying "yes" to.
Peace may be setting boundaries, cutting off relationships, moving into a smaller home, going to work or staying home with the children.
I don't know what that peace will look like for you. You do. Look for it. Life is so much better with peace.
This is my last post about my time at Brave Girl Camp…I promise.
I know I have gotten so many emails wanting to know more about the camp.
Go to www.bravegirlsclub.com to check out the location, times, and costs.
You will not regret it!
Who couldn't use a reminder that you were BORN TO FLY??
I have to share ONE more thing:-)
The BGC "theme" song was Life Uncommon by Jewel.
The words are incredible.
Kathy sang it a few times and the last night Kathy and Melody sang it together.
I hope you love it as much as I have.
I have not started my promise book yet… I need to. xox
Jeanne, your posts are always so touching and sweet…i love how you talk about your life…how much you love it and how happy you are…you are blessed…it really sounds like you had the most amazing time at the brave girls club
You can post on BGC as much as you want. I am enthralled by the journey and friendship you three have been on.
It’s hard to come back to real life after the mountaintop experience isn’t it? I have been there myself many times.
lovely post….and you girls are just so dang adorable.
Hi. I came over from Becky’s blog and I am so thankful that I did. Thank you for reminding me to slow down. What a wonderful journey…I love reading about it.
I keep reading about how amazing this was! I am so happy for ya’ll. I think it would be a great soul-searching experience!
Oh sweet friend…you have no idea how timely this post is for me..thank you!
I’m so glad that you had this amazing opportunity. We women need to come together like this more often to share ourselves, our experiences and our wisdom.
Love and hugs to you!
Karyn
neat, jeanne. i was just going to ask you for the song title again! thanks!=) really beautiful and challenging, jeanne. mostly, very real and at the heart of LIVING. i remember being asked (college years) to give my life a title. my response finally was LIVING TO LIVE. i believe the thoughts in your post get to the heart of what that means. love you!
btw, i love melody’s leather butterfly!!!=)
I am so addicted to your blog and your writing. I have been feeling the same way this week. And my sister has been telling me every day to go where the peace is. Maby I need to move to Idaho.
I agree with Lemonade Makin’ Momma, you can keep writing about your amazing journey because I want to keep reading about it!
I love that it was something that transformed you, and is now transforming us because of you. Amen to you, and Melody, and all the girls that participated!
Such great lessons to learn…I am also really loving reading about your time at BGC! Finding peace is something I’d like to do!
I am blown away by your posts on BGC….I need BGC, thank you for sharing this incredible experience with all of us. We all need some healing and peace, some days more than others.
Thank you.
Awww sweet peace…what we all need and long for! I love seeing your pics and hearing about BGC…you have give those of us unable to go a piece of inspiration!
Okay, well I’m actually sad to see the Brave Girl posts come to an end. I have enjoyed each and every one of them and for some reason this last one really struck a chord with me. Thank you. It was just what I needed today and I’m going to bookmark it and come back to it again. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself through this process. It’s very brave and I think you are wonderful. Jen
Yes, I vote for peace, with a dash of happiness. Thanks for the wonderful posts on your incredible BGC, Jeanne.
thank you again for another wonderful post. your last few posts have really got me thinking….actually deeper than thinking…more like soul searching. thank you for the encouragement.
your heart is beautiful, tender, kind and compassionate.
you are an amazing example of GOOD!!
have a great weekend!!!
i had a mentor , years ago that encouraged us to take a day away & spend in meditating, praying, journaling or whatever. i haven’t done one in several years. i really want to make that a commitment especially during this fall season, which is my favorite time for reflection.
thank you for sharing your heart & what you learned during those days. i can only imagine….
i will take much of what you’ve said to heart when i hopefully soon, get my quiet day away!
much love to you jeanne
you inspire me
I miss you… I MISS you!!! Your photos of your promise book are so much more artistic than mine. I just took flat photos. I like yours a lot!! Miss you like crazy!! I think about you and Becky and Melody and Kathy…and carrie… and…. and all the time! You guys have touched my heart and will be my friends forever.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
wow. thank you for sharing…could read on and on about how this experience blessed you, so don’t stop!! for me, it is such a gift to be told we are worth giving this time to ourselves. i only pray that i do it. you are a blessing, thank you, from a friend you have never met, but someone who truly values what you have given us all. jules
I would love it if you could just speak for me all the time. You’ve done it each time you posted about BGC, you’ve taken exactly what I feel in my heart and put it into such beautiful words. Thanks you! Can tell you I listen to that song about 50 times a day. It’s the first thing I listen to in the morning, it’s how I start my day.
what a great post……..i can really connect with your writing……..
p.s. love your boots in the last pict.
Goodness there is so much truth in this post. Beautifully stated as your true heart just comes out in your words. I love it how you call me to think and go within my heart to find truth.
Praying you amazing peace today girly, and sunshine in your heart too!
Beautiful post, so real and inspiring Jeanne, I think this little post has solitified (sp?) something for me..so thank you! I saw a shooting star today on my way to work, I wasn’t even looking, and it was low, really low…i wanted to turn the car around and get my baby out of bed, and dress him in his warm clothes and sit beneath a tree, and wait..til dawn with him, hoping he could see what I saw, just maybe…Thank you for being such a real friend to so many!
A very lovely read Jeanne…promises are so easy to write but sometimes so hard to keep. I guess there is a challenge for us all…..Have a wonderful weekend, xv.
Oh my goodness Jeanne- you have totally spoken to my heart. That is totally what I need to do.. go where the peace is.
I am also gonna use one of your beautiful journals that I have at the store and write down promises to myself. I have never done that and I REALLY want to.
Thank you so much for posting on BGC. I have enjoyed every post. They have touched my heart. Your thoughts have been a blessing to me. Thank you!
xo,
Adrienne
You might be having a hard time finding your rhythm this week Jeanne, but my goodness, your posts have been unbelieveably inspiring! Thank you for sharing so much of this incredible experience with us!!
🙂 T
Thanks for so much for sharing. I love the idea of the promise book. It is also interesting about peace versus happiness. It reminds me of the end of a benediction that says: “The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace”.
What a lovely post! This camp sounds amazing! Peace is a wonderful thing to have.
This trip sounds wonderful. I can think of so many of my dear friends that would grow from this. Myself included. Pleeease give us more so that we can live vicariously through you:) how amazing to have the chance to dig deep in a safe setting with so many fabulous women! I may only be an aspiring artist but I want to go next Fall. I love your blog. It is so inspiring. Thanks for your great posts.
The term “diamond in the rough” just doesn’t apply to you but somehow you are a diamond in a sea of rough blogs. And I like that. You are always you. And it shines through your blog. Swimmingly. It’s not just pretty design photographs: it’s life. How to live a better life. This camp says much about you. What you took from it says even more.
Peace. That’s a hard thing to find. So many blogs encourage wanting more. It’s lovely to see you write that you should find peace when you might not have all that you think you need. Because at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself am I living a life of necessity or desire? I know I could give up much. But, yet, I don’t.
With that, a great post, Jeanne. I like the world through your lens. 🙂
Thank you. This was such a beautiful reminder of what life is really all about! I am filing away this idea…
Thanks again.
Such beautiful words…and what a wonderful motto:) Thanks for sharing your incredible, magical, heart-changing experience with us:)
Wow… what a moving experience for you and all of the others who got to experience it. What a blessing…
I needed the reminder that I am not supposed to be just surviving but thriving! Somehow I lost sight of that. Thank you! I have been so blessed reading about camp. 🙂
Thank you so much for everything you have written about Brave Girls Camp. I have had so many thoughs going around in my head since we have been home and it is so comforting reading what you have written. You have a gift with words and I am blessed to have met you.
beautiful jeanne, gosh i could cry just reading about it…..someday i’ll be brave.
Jeanne, reading about your experience at the BGC has been wonderful. I can hear in your writing the truth that you found for yourself. This must have been such a sweet spiritual experience for you. I have so enjoyed your beautiful writing and your lovely photos.
Hugs,
June
Amazing post, girl! I felt every written word:) I feel blessed to have met you and sure hope to see you soon again
jeanne, what amazing heartfelt words about your time at BGC. everyone should experience a weekend like that. just know that your words touched me and made me think. thank you for that.
Jeanne, Reading your posts about BGC has been amazing – it’s given me so much to think about – I know I would love to hear more and I suspect many others feel the same. Please continue to write for as long as you wish to share.
Michele
oh, i don’t want it to be the last post…more! more!…thanks so much for sharing…you make me cry sometimes, but i still love reading you 🙂