Small Ways I’m Feeling Brave Every Day
Description
Gretchen McIntire headshot on right, image of Autumn trees lining winding road

Gretchen McIntire headshot on right, image of Autumn trees lining winding road

By Gretchen McIntire

In the last couple of days, I have been reflecting on the ways I have worked hard to be brave this year. A lot of my work has been emotional but some of it has involved a lot of unexpected changes.

This year there were times when I worried I might run out of ways to be brave only to be slammed with another challenge that forced me to be brave once again.

But the truth is that I strive for courage and to do my best every single day.

And while I haven’t traveled internationally this year like I did last year and the year before, I did make a big move out of my family’s home. It’s been a big adjustment to find a new routine. And while I haven’t lost nearly fifty pounds like I did a couple of years ago, I am slowly getting back into the swing of a gym routine.

This week as I have been working on my draft for my speech for TEDXNatick for January 2020, I am thinking about how it’s really the little things that add up to the bravest of all:

Driving to a brand-new restaurant for the first time alone, sending my manuscript out just one more time to another literary agent for the novel I wrote this year (still hoping to find one), and sometimes it’s just getting up each day and facing the social anxiety of my part time work. That feels really big all on its own.

So I’m not exactly marching into 2020 with enormous goals.

I’m excited to see what my non-profit BostonCalm will do for others next year, I’m excited to become more-healthy, and I’m hoping to find an agent. I’m sure I’ll be faced with plenty of challenges along the way because of my Aspergers (ASD) diagnosis, but I know more than ever that I am strong enough to keep going.

Isn’t that the greatest victory? To keep going against all odds.

What are small ways you feel you’re brave every day? What’s one goal you can set for 2020 that isn’t enormous but will make you feel successful? I believe in you.

Read about Gretchen

If you liked this post, you may also like:

The post Small Ways I’m Feeling Brave Every Day appeared first on Geek Club Books.

Comments
Order by: 
Per page:
 
  • There are no comments yet
Related Feed Entries
By James T. Ellis, PhD, BCBA-D and Christine Almeida, MSEd, EdS, BCBA Image by Chessie Almeida Hi! Hello! Welcome to the Socially Savvy Second Edition! Almost 20 years ago, we (Christine and Jim) decided to develop a social-skills assessment, which eventually became Socially Savvy. At the t…
7 days ago · From Different Roads to Learning
Prefer listening? Try the audio overview of this post by pressing play below. When we think of robots, we usually picture rigid machines on a factory floor. They require exhaustive programming, massive datasets, and perfectly controlled environments to function. If one thing is out of place, …
13 days ago · From Assistive Technology Blog
In a landmark move for the global assistive technology community, the Ministry of Electronics & IT recently unveiled a comprehensive strategy to transform India from a text-heavy digital landscape into a voice-first ecosystem. Launched at the India AI Summit Expo 2026, this initiative is anchore…
28.04.2026 · From Assistive Technology Blog
By Sam Blanco, PhD, LBA, BCBA There’s a famous quote from W. Edwards Deming that says “Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” While Deming wasn’t a behavior analyst, this statement aligns closely with how BCBAs approach their work. Most BCBAs will report how much they love …
28.04.2026 · From Different Roads to Learning
Adidas has announced the launch of the Supernova Rise 3 Adaptive, its first performance running shoe specifically designed for athletes with disabilities. Developed over several years, the shoe was inspired by Chris Nikic—the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman—who previously stru…
10.04.2026 · From Assistive Technology Blog
Rate
0 votes
Info
27.12.2019 (27.12.2019)
612 Views
0 Subscribers
Recommend
Tags