There is a place in South Florida that I now associate with greatness. It’s called the BB&T Center.
To be fair, I’ve only been there twice, but both times I’ve left feeling motivated, inspired, focused and entertained. Both times I was exposed to greatness in the form of two fabulous black women (and cultural icons) named Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey.
I saw my forever FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, on her book tour last May, and more recently, I spent the first Saturday of 2020 with Ms. Winfrey and her friends (one of them being Lady Gaga) during an all-day event.
As part of her 2020 Vision Tour, in partnership with WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Oprah is on a nine-city tour, and sunny South Florida was her very first stop.
The day consisted of dancing, laughing, meditating, listening to great insights and, perhaps most importantly, setting intentions for ourselves. Being clear about our goals and the purpose behind them – in mind, body and spirit. As Oprah asked the audience, “What is the more that you really want that’s connected to why you’re here?” We have to name it to claim it.
What I love about this thinking is that it forces people to really think about their “more” and then – the crucial part – be intentional about going after it. Yes, I believe life gives you twists and turns that you just can’t prepare for or see coming, but I also believe that you have the power to define your vision and be purposeful about achieving it.
What I love about what they said is the spectrum of bravery and the idea that bravery isn’t a one size fits all thing.
But perhaps my favorite takeaway from the day was during Oprah’s interview with Lady Gaga, when they talked about taking bites of bravery – having those moments where you do something that scares you, maybe even terrifies you. What I love about what they said is the spectrum of bravery and the idea that bravery isn’t a one size fits all thing. Someone with a fear of water who puts their foot in the ocean is just as brave as the person who jumps out of an airplane. It’s all relative and it’s always, always personal.
I am not a big New Year’s resolutions person, but since my Saturday with Oprah (casual mention), I’ve been giving more thought to my intentions, what it means to be brave and how to take both big and little bites of bravery in my life. And going and actually doing that.
Stepping out of my comfort zone is...uncomfortable (of course). It comes with a number of annoying doubts that can strike at the most inopportune times. But I’ve realized that taking even just one doubt, pushing back at it and then deciding to do what you’re doing anyway, is bravery. Maybe a little bite, or a big bite, it doesn’t matter. It’s still bravery and it’s still moving forward.
I say all this because as we go into a new year, new decade (maybe) and, every 24 hours, a new day, I think it’s helpful to remember that our journey is just that – ours. What’s brave to someone else may not be brave to you, and vice versa. And what may feel like a big, massive bite of bravery doesn’t have to be that way. It can start with the smallest, teeniest, tiniest bite of bravery, and that’s still being brave.
So, thanks, Oprah and Lady Gaga, for making me think about bravery in a different way, and forcing me to think about what my “more” is and then being brave enough to go after it.
In the words of Lady Gaga, “I think I have a few superpowers. I just haven’t used them all yet.”
