08/17/2026
I found this picture of myself the other day, and it honestly surprised me.
I remember this day vividly. I remember crying. I remember being SO scared. I remember that panicky feeling in my body. The fear of everyone looking at me and, more than anything, thinking, I donât want to let anyone down.
But when I look at this picture, I donât see any of that.
I donât see tears or fear. I just see a cute little girl in a pretty dress who looks like sheâs got it all handled.
People have said some version of that about me my whole life. That I never seem scared or worried. That I just do the thing with ease or confidence.
I guess I learned pretty young how to shove all of that self doubt somewhere deep inside and keep moving.
Because that little flower girl is absolutely still in there.
I still get scared. I still worry about getting it all wrong or letting everyone down. I still have moments when I want to turn around and decide maybe I donât have to walk down this particular aisle after all.
But I usually walk it anyway.
And maybe thatâs what this little girl (me) was learning before she even knew there was a lesson in it:
Being brave doesnât always feel brave.
Sometimes courage looks completely calm in the picture, even when it felt terrifying in the moment.
So if youâre getting married and you have a flower girl or ring bearer, or youâre the parent of one, tell them itâs okay to be scared. Donât tell them thereâs nothing to be afraid of. Tell them they can be afraid AND still do it.
Tell them courage isnât the absence of fear. Sometimes courage is holding your little basket, taking that first step, and walking down the aisle anyway.
Because it may feel like a tiny moment in a wedding to us grown-ups, but to them, it can be something really big.
And it just might be a lesson they carry with them for the rest of their lives. đ¸â¤ď¸
Photo 1: Toni circa: 1980-something
Photo 2-4: Rachel & Noah Ray
Photo 5: Joel & Lexi | CHS Realtors đ
