by Megan Grace
Photo courtesy of artist, author and illustrator Ashley Wolff. Please check out ashleywolff.com
Zorro came running when I called. My pup led the way into Portland’s fall splendor. Aesthetically, I ate up the endless buffet of lavish reds, pungent oranges, festive golds, and the remains of green. I plucked one leaf from its dance in the breeze to accompany me on my walk. With tiny touches of apricot, maroon, and green, it represented the beauty overhead. I focused on slivered rips in the leaf. Where did they come from? I pondered its gaps, commiserated even: “Must have been the wind, the rain, or maybe a hungry bug. Huh?”
Above me, I checked out the remaining autumn leaves fanfare. My eyes zeroed in on each one individually. The tiny tears on the leaf were actually letting in sunlight, so they kinda had a glimmer to them. On my life path, this metaphor for tender, broken rips hit strong. It did not matter how the “irregularities or gaps” became a part of the leaves’ tapestry. Undoubtedly, each leaf had no idea how its tears added to its overall beauty. Isn’t that often the human experience? It takes bravery to live with boldness and bring rips into the open for others to see Tutu. I think that often you might be the last to see the beauty in your own tender places.
Photo courtesy of artist, author and illustrator Ashley Wolff. Please check out ashleywolff.com.
In my Brave Tutu efforts to “take courage in delight and discover power in small moments,” I delighted in the strength of these wind-tussled leaves. In courage, they danced, as they held tight to the branches above me. I discovered power in my mini-moment of reflection. I believe, our tears let in light and are most beautiful when moved by a bigger force.
As I daily choose to don the tutu of bravery, it matters very little how the tender or wounded places became part of my present day. I remember the leaves— Come, as you are: brilliant and tattered, with curves, edges, tears, and smudges. Inhale deeply the crisp air of a season marked with visible change. You are enough. Take this as your invitation to dance.
I'm thrilled to welcome my first guest author for this week’s Brave Tutu blog Megan Grace and I first met when we were roommates in Spain during a college semester abroad. When I didn’t understand our Host Mom’s Spanish, I’d turn to Megan for help. Fortunately, she remains fluent in English, Spanish, and Brave Tutu.
Megan Grace and Zorro.
Bio: Megan Grace regularly zooms in on small moments and finds delight in the present. Her calling is helping others walk through and heal from trauma. You’ll often find her on the dance floor, dancing Brazilian Zouk, or exploring the Pacific Northwest with Zorro, her right hand pup. Read another one of her articles here.