Five Minute Friday: Grit



 Around here we write for five minutes flat on Fridays.

We write because we want to, not because we have to. We write for fun, for joy, for discovery at how much creativity is crammed in our heads and even if we just unlock if for five minutes it can paint the world in dazzling wonder.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. (that means if I spell something wrong, or use the wrong word, too late! let it go! don't feel you need to correct me.)
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & leave an encouraging comment.

On Fridays we just write without worrying if it’s just right or not. It’s such a relief, I promise. OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:
::

Grit

GO!

I used to be fearless.

I used to be the child who approached other children on the playground and asked if I could play.

I used to make up my own games and try to pull others in to play them with me.

I used to play in the dirt, the mud and get filthy.

I used to rip my dresses rolling down the grassy hill on Sundays.

I used to rip my dresses walking across the room.

I was intense.

If I loved, I loved hard.

If I was upset, everyone knew it.

Once I was pouting and I smacked an old lady's glasess clear across the room when she bent down to see why I was sad.

At times, I was a brat, I know it.

But I was fearless.

What happened to that grit?

What happened to the girl who made up dances and proud as punch, showed them off to family, who snickered at my silly boldness?

What happened to the girl who dreamt big and lived loud?

I'm a little more subdued now.

I live life behind a mask.

But I am learning to let that mask slip away and show my real self most of the time.

I'm learning from the years when taunts and geers broke my confidence and turned my courage into dust.

I'm letting go of the intensity and embracing the passionate.

I love life.

My heart nearly bursts for all the love I have to give.

And yet...some days the tips of my fingers reach out and find no one there.

I am learning to remember who that little fearless girl was and take that courage and mix it with my zest for life.

I'm mixing the grit with love.

STOP!