20 seconds.

A few months ago I rented the movie We Bought a Zoo on a rainy Sunday afternoon with my furry friend, Lucy, snuggled on my lap. It turned out to be an adorable little film as well as yet another reason to secretly wish you were married (with babies. lots of babies.) to Matt Damon.

My favorite part of the movie is when Matt's character talks to his kids about the power within just 20 seconds of insane courage. He says; "You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage.  Just literally, 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery, and I promise you, something great will come of it."

This line got me thinking about the moments of embarrassing bravery in my own life-so-far, and before I knew it, my mind was racing....

20 seconds of courage caused me to break down during my 3 year review at my last job; to admit, out loud, to my then boss (who was always so wonderful to me) that I was...and had been for quite some time...completely unhappy, unsatisfied, unfulfilled and uncomfortable in my career. 20 seconds of courage put my resignation in that very same phone call; it lifted a weight I still feel relieved to be free of, 4 years later.

20 seconds of courage helped me walk into a cute boutique in my new California neighborhood to inquire about the help wanted sign in the window (read about my funemployment theories here) and thus 20 seconds of courage gave me Jenny and Dre (2/3 of my ginger SF besties...apparently west coast Trish loves herself a red head).

20 seconds of courage pushed me to comment on my now boss's Facebook status about driving around SF in one of these (so fun!), even though I hadn't seen him in probably 2 years and had only met him a few times through a mutual friend before that.  20 seconds of courage set my current (and completely unexpected, amazing, is-this-for-real?) career path in motion.

20 seconds of courage pushed me to crumble, after months of essentially living a lie; to acknowledge my then partner and I simply were not meant to be together. 20 seconds of courage freed us both to move on, to heal and to meet new people who would enrich both our lives. Even though it was sad and humbling, guilt ridden and painful, 20 seconds of insane courage gave us each another chance at real, sustainable happiness; the insane courage paved way to...well...sanity, again.

20 seconds of courage has most recently sparked a new, potential side business in the realm of public and motivational speaking. 20 seconds of courage told fear and self doubt about my capabilities to please make a quiet exit, while I take the stage. It has told me to go for it and I am excited (read: super nervous but open) to see how it plays out.

And 20 seconds of courage pushed me to listen to that tiny, out of nowhere voice in my head that told me I should reply to B's casual email catch up with an invitation to visit me in SF. 20 seconds of courage has given me a cherished, loving relationship that has soothed my soul and made me smile most genuinely again.

This list goes on and on....

With every honest cell in my body, I tell you that in each of these turned-out-to-be-remarkable situations above...I had no plan. Like. At all. At the time of these events, although I certainly felt a tad nutty for a moment (or 12), I also trusted. I had good intentions. I had deep breaths and imagination. I had 20 whole seconds of insane courage to take a bold step, failure be damned.

And it has resulted in great, great things.

Whaddya think?

20 seconds of insane courage.

You've got this.

Ready.

Go...



love and light,

Trish