Hello , my fellow brave human

What keeps you standing when everything around you feels a bit scary?

I wanted to share some reflections with you about resilience that have struck me over the last week after being inspired by two people in particular - one close to home, and one playing out on the international stage.

Being knocked down to get up again. And again.

On Sunday, while helping prepare the kitchen for our new community pub down the road, I met a remarkable woman. She has just emerged from 13 years of cancer treatment—battling three different cancers and enduring multiple life-changing operations—she spoke not of her past struggles but of her plans to get fit again and re-engage with life.

Her quiet determination, embedded within our local community, had me in awe of her. What extraordinary resilience it takes to overcome one devastating diagnosis only to face another, and yet still get up and hope?

Standing for 25 Hours

Meanwhile, in the US, Senator Cory Booker staged an extraordinary demonstration of political resilience. Standing for 25 continuous hours on the Senate floor, he methodically catalogued and challenged the actions of the Trump administration that threaten democratic values and vulnerable communities.

Booker deliberately dehydrated himself and fasted for 24 hours beforehand so he could continue without breaks—a physical commitment to match his moral conviction. Sometimes reading prepared remarks, sometimes speaking from the heart, he reminded us what principled resistance looks like.

The Connection Between Them

These two stories—one personal, one political—might seem worlds apart. Yet they share something essential: the capacity to stand up and say No.

Both demonstrate that resilience isn't simply about enduring or accepting hardship, but about transforming it into meaningful action. Both show how our deepest values can sustain us through difficult times. And both remind us that whether our sphere of influence is a village or the Senate floor, resilience is absolutely key.

Why This Matters Now

The millions who joined the "Hands Off" protests this weekend are responding to the same call that motivates both my village peer and Senator Booker. In these times of moral injury—when we witness events that wound us at our core—we need models of resilience more than ever.

As Gabor Maté recently observed, we are all suffering from moral injury as we confront painful realities we cannot unsee in so many parts of the world right now. But our breaking hearts are not signs of weakness—they're evidence of our humanity. When we allow ourselves to be broken open by injustice, we create space for light to enter.

The Long Haul Ahead

We must prepare for the long haul. The chaos currently being unleashed—the detentions, the book removals, the attacks on basic freedoms—I believe will continue despite protest. And they will take far longer to heal than it did to create. And not only heal. We can’t assume that because we want it to stop that it will. Look at Gaza. But we can’t despair. Think of the future, and what we can contribute to it. Do not let the light be extinguished. 

This is why The Brave Collective feels so vital right now. Though small, we are like mycelium beneath the ground, creating connections and building resilience, feeding little lights through our communities. We are preparing for the green shoots that will eventually emerge from these wildfires.

Three Imperatives for Our Time

As we move forward together, I believe we must focus on three essentials:

1. Resource yourself – Sustainable resistance requires that we really focus on our mental and physical wellbeing. You cannot pour from an empty cup.

2. Link with others – Isolated, we are vulnerable. Connected, we become resilient, adaptive, and capable of nurturing new life even in seemingly barren soil.

3. Know your truth – In times of confusion and disinformation, holding fast to what we know to be true becomes both anchor and compass.

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Dates for Your Diary

Walk & Talk

Friday 11th April 1pm - “Purpose and Perspectives” Valley Walk Set Aside at Greenlawdean Farm, Greenlaw, an eco-tourism project (that I’m also working on).

For more info about Set Aside visit here.

We have an offer of a shared lift from Edinburgh or from the train from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Just let me know.

Book Walk and Talk

Brave Retreat (Advance!)

Saturday 26th April - Phenzhopehaugh, Ettrick Valley. A combination of walking, talking, and workshopping. Connection to yourself, to others and understanding the role you play in this mad world we live in.

This Advance Day isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating a safe haven where we can acknowledge the challenges while remembering our capacity to meet them. Based in the beautiful land owned by one of The Brave Collective, this will be a real space to connect.

Perhaps you're feeling drained by trying to make a difference. Maybe you don't yet fully recognise your unique gifts. Or possibly you're simply seeking like-minded souls who understand that rebuilding requires both vision and community.

For more information click here

Investment: £50

Book Retreat (Advance!) Day

As ever, join us on the Be and Build journey to explore how to be the brave you were born to be. I have a couple of spots left to start at the end of May

Here’s to your brilliance.

P.S. If you find value in these reflections, please consider sharing them with others who might like them. For more information about The Brave Collective click here.

Kirsty x