Brazenness, Fearlessness, and Aging

This evening, I spent time with two of my three children, enjoying dinner with another family while carolers sang nearby. My neighborhood in Florida is home to a community mostly of a certain age, which often makes me feel youthful as one of the younger residents around. What continues to amaze me, though, is their joie de vivre.

Tonight, a group of men and women performed for us—people who, decades ago, might never have imagined singing in front of an audience. Watching them sparked a thought: how many things do I now embrace that I wouldn’t have dared attempt in the past? And what might I boldly try in the years to come?
One of the gifts of aging, I’ve realized, is the opportunity to reclaim our fearlessness—the brazenness we may have lost along the way. I’ve seen this evolution in myself, I witnessed it tonight among my neighbors, and I’ve noticed it in my friends as well.

Shame is such a heavy burden, but there’s a profound freedom in learning to set it down. Many of the things that once embarrassed me no longer do. Instead, I see my quirks and imperfections as badges of honor, scars from battles fought and lessons learned. They are proof of my growth and resilience.

I know I wouldn’t have started this business earlier in my life; I would’ve been too afraid of failing. And yet, so many of you have shared with me that fear of failure is what holds you back. Whenever I’m asked for advice about starting something new, I always say this: expect failure—it’s inevitable. But it’s not failure itself that determines your success. What matters is your willingness to keep going.

You may not find success exactly where you first imagined, and your definition of success might change along the way. But if you persevere, I believe without question that you’ll find it. 

Here’s to living boldly, embracing our flaws, and daring to try.
XX Christina