A - Adventurous

A fearless southern girl is . . .

Adventurous

She takes risks that require courage. She's willing to go out on a limb for a friend. She ignores her insecurities and runs for school board. She ignores the walls begging to be painted and hosts a dinner party for her friends. She resists nagging apprehension and rides roller coasters, flys down zip-lines, rafts rapids, climbs rock faces.

This post is part of the annual A to Z Blog Challenge. Click the link to visit other participating blogs. Consider joining the 2013 April A to Z Challenge. My participation in the 2011 Challenge resulted in the ABC Book of Literary Devices, available from Amazon.com:

A Modern Fable

What can Foxy Loxy and friends teach us?

Optimism often delusional, but pessimism is no fun | McDuffie Mirror

What are You Waiting For?

Really. What are you waiting for?

Godot?

Prince Charming?

Happiness?

Prince Charming and Godot may very well be on their way right now. They might even be in a race to see who can get there first. And they arrive, you'll fling open the door and say, "Welcome. I've been waiting for you. You must be parched. How 'bout some sweet iced tea?"

But happiness is not on its way. So quit waiting. You're wasting your time. It won't arrive with rap-tap on the door.

Here's the thing about happiness: It will never get here, no matter how patiently and persistently you wait; You will never find it, no matter how dedicated your search.

Happiness isn't a visitor and it isn't a destination. It's a choice.

So, what are you waiting for?

Make up your mind.

Fearless Girls Don't Ride in Trucks with Boys

April A to Z Challenge

Southern Girls Living Fearlessly is joining the 2012 April A to Z Blog Challenge. Beginning April 1st and running through April 30th, read a post everyday (except the last four Sundays of the month). This year's focus will be on the 26 attributes every fearless southern girl should cultivate in herself.

The Logic of Fearlessness

Wine makes everyone hopeful. - Aristotle

 Hope is not a plan. - SGLF

But it's a start. - Lucy Adams

Clear Your Plate for 2012

After dinner, my husband turned to our 10 year-old daughter, who sat at his left elbow, and said, "Clear your plate and clear mine."

The child replied, "Yes, sir," and lifted her plate from the place-mat. She paused. Her brow furrowed and her nose crinkled. She looked at her father and asked, "Clear your plate, clear your mind? What?"

"Ooooh, I like that," I cooed.

"Clear your plate, clear mine," clarified my husband.

"Clear plate, clear mind," I repeated. "There's something to that. It's so true."

My beloved's brow furrowed. "We're talking about taking dishes off of the table," he firmly redirected.

Sweetly, our daughter, unscathed by the philosophical rumblings beneath the after dinner clean-up, said, "I'll yours next, Mama."

"Thank you," I said to her. Then to my soul mate, "I know exactly what we're talking about here."

It's time to get ready for 2012. Out with the old and in with the new. What's on your plate, or your entire table, that's holding you back from facing the new year with anticipation?

Clear it so you can start 2012 ready to accept its possibilities.