For those of you who are long time readers of my blog, you know Brene and I have been friends for many years. In fact our friendship was born from a time when we both dared greatly: I invited her (along with 12 other women I felt called to meet) to the OR coast for a weekend of connection back in 2008. She dared greatly and actually came. It was a life changing weekend and we continue to gather in community every year.
Brene and I are both social workers. Both boot lovers. Both believers in the extraordinary human spirit. Both raised with the grit of country and the grace of transformation. I consider her my big sister angel friend for all the times she has ushered me into deep awakening. She is the one of the few people I call when I’m in crisis, when I have something big to celebrate, when I’m in need of a gut check.
Many of you are familiar with Brene through her TED talks, her books, her recent Oprah show appearances (Super Soul Sunday, Lifeclass). I’m so happy, not just for her, but for all the lives she is reaching with her work and her incredible message and story.
Recently she asked if I could fly out to her home to film a segment with her for her upcoming online class on Oprah.com that will be based on her book The Gifts Of Imperfection. After jumping up and down for approximately one entire day, I settled down and coordinated travel with my friend Ali who would also be traveling to film a segment.
And friends, it was so much fun.
The segment that I filmed with Brene will air during week six of her ecourse. It’s about cultivating intuition, trusting faith, and living with uncertainty. Brene and I both shared a bit about our personal mantras, how they came to be, personal stories, and the art journaling exercises we did for that week’s lesson. Really good stuff.
The entire filming experience with Brene and the Oprah production crew was fun, eye-opening, and a couple of days I’ll never forget. There was even a make-up artist who I adored and learned so much from!
But the best part of the entire experience was simply being together. I arrived in Texas on the cusp of a big personal edge. After a couple of heartwarming days with Ali and Brene I left Texas crossed over, ushered into a new horizon. Best gift ever.
And there was dancing and singing, of course.
And evening snuggles and girl talk about life and business and motherhood and family and lessons and possibility. There’s nothing better than connecting with friends who understand you, get you, SEE you, and reflect back all the courage you’ve been practicing and cultivating through the years. I’m a lucky girl.
Friends, don’t miss Brene’s online class. It will be life changing. That, I know!
See you in class!
Kelly Rae
