BEING BRAVE

When people think of bravery, they usually picture going off to war, conquering a mountain, or embarking on a grand expedition. But bravery comes in all shapes and sizes. For me, this time it was being extremely social and putting myself out there. It meant feeling like a fool, battling overstimulation sweats, stumbling through "word vomit," and even enduring mini panic attacks while networking and pitching my business and mission. All the while, I wondered if people truly "got it" or if I sounded like a lunatic to notable brands.

I've been incredibly tired of feeling stagnant and stuck, so I decided to invest in myself. I put myself in a place where I aspire to be in the future, and WHEW did it challenge me! I felt like I grew five years, but also felt like I was kicked back to when I was graduating college. It's a real challenge to network and try to "sell" a brand that, in many ways, still lives primarily in your head.

Before my trip, a lot of people told me how brave I was for going solo and not knowing anyone. At first, it didn’t faze me, mostly because I was just overwhelmed with excitement to finally put myself out there, exactly where I wanted to be. But once I actually made it and reality hit, I definitely felt overwhelmed, underprepared, and truly in shock at the caliber of people I was surrounded by. I was nervous to approach certain brands and felt like I couldn’t quite convey my message. Yet, I grew and gained so much clarity from being brave, from stepping out and conquering a deep-seated fear of social anxiety.

I decided to attend the Outside Summit and Festival in Denver, Colorado. It was an absolute blast, and I loved every minute! This event for the outdoor industry featured all the international brands you could imagine, celebrating everything outdoors. I met some incredible people, organizations, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits. I was surrounded by like-minded individuals who shared my love for nature and the outdoors.

Within that large crowd of outdoor enthusiasts, I found my small group of nature appreciators—those who go to nature to heal. I made some incredible new friends and learned far more than I could have imagined. I also started to feel less out of place once I found my groove, realizing I was among those who genuinely wanted to protect nature and learn from it, not just play in it. I discovered my passion for storytelling and was inspired by so many storytellers there. I'm still reminiscing about all I experienced, but also about how truly I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and gained such valuable insight.

It was amazing to sit in a forest bathing class with Florence Williams, author of The Nature Fix, and learn her insights on connecting with nature in urban settings. We discussed the importance of nature for relieving our minds and how Eastern cultures incorporate this science into their societies. It was so wonderful to hear entrepreneurs and storytellers advocate for children getting outdoors, emphasize nature as a priority, and discuss how screen-dependent our society has become. It truly reinforced that what I’ve been advocating for is incredibly relevant. My hope is for others to get out in nature, heal their minds, connect with others, and simply enjoy living away from a screen.

It's crazy to me that people view me as brave for attending a conference and festival solo in another state, just to meet the people I want to be around. To me, it’s choosing life versus watching others live it on a screen. It's almost sad that "bravery" is now defined by simply living and doing something that isn't socially normal or by doing something alone. If I were to wait for others, I wouldn’t be able to have a life worth truly living.

So go out, be brave, get overstimulated, meet cool people by being your unique self, and go enjoy having the time of your life! Whether it’s with new friends, old friends, or just yourself. Enjoy the beauty of nature, do what your heart craves, and look back later with pride.

I’ll definitely write more about my experience at the Outside Festival in the next few weeks. This post is absolutely me being proud of my bravery, but also an encouragement for you to go book that ticket, to do the thing!

Peace & Love, Erica of Calming Captures

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