FEARLESS FRIDAY
I have an absolutely delightful guest post today by Birdie Song. We're happy to have her for Fearless Friday on Discover... And even more special, her latest book released just two days ago. Congratulations, Birdie!
What might be more interesting would be to tell you about the
times I did things without fear, only to later learn that I should have been
more afraid. Like when I snuck into a crowded roped-off area at a festival that
had stopped letting people in (hello, fire hazard), or the time I patted a
full-grown Berkshire pig and he bit my hand (could’ve done some real damage),
or the time I walked through an alley in a foreign country only to come out the
other side and see a guy behind me carrying a machete (yes, he was actually
looking for me!).
Often when we think about being brave or fearless, we picture
hectic stunts and thrilling once-in-a-lifetime moments, but there’s also a lot
to be said for the everyday fearlessness we must summon just to get on with
life. One of my favourite examples of this “chronic fearlessness” is how
vulnerable we need to let ourselves be in order to truly connect with people.
It’s hard being this vulnerable. When you’re the one
speaking, you reveal something about yourself without knowing how another
person might take it. Will they react violently, threateningly; will they use
your secrets against you later; or will they be careless with your heart,
enabling someone else to hurt you? It taps into something primal within us,
something that evolved in our social Homo sapien brains to help us
survive. We’re wired to fear judgement and ostracisation.
When you’re the one listening, your sense of self is called
into question. Are you a traitor to your loved ones if you hear something
disagreeable? Do you get to still identify as a certain type of person if you
give attention to the unfamiliar, unusual, or unexpected? Will you be exposed
as ignorant or incompetent or irrelevant? The way we respond to people, to
books, to life, can often reveal our deepest fears and secret shames.
To be a caring person, a thoughtful person, the kind of
person who helps where help is needed, knows when to back off, and intuits and
respects boundaries is no easy thing. It takes a certain measure of courage,
wisdom, and the willingness to trust. Some days my socially anxious side takes
over, and I hide from the world because I just can’t be that person – it’s too
hard, and I’m too luteal.
But the point, I think, is to try as best we can, whenever we
can, to face our everyday fears for the sake of something better. I might not
walk that alleyway again, but perhaps I’ll let my guard down next time a new
friend invites me round for tea.
The Guy from the Beach
Resort by Birdie Song
A guy who keeps his promise could be worth breaking
hers.
Reformed party-girl Penny is going to fix her life. No,
really, she’s gonna do it this time! Starting with a vow of abstinence, five
days in a Bali beach resort, and literally running into a well-timed fake
boyfriend she definitely won’t fool around with.
Unfortunately for her, Adam is smart, funny, charming, and
starting to look like an all-round decent human being. All green flags and zero
risk, he’s the kind of guy who respects her and keeps his promises, leaving
Penny desperate to break hers.
The Guy from the Beach Resort is a sweet, fake dating,
slow-burn romance, set in the world of Somerville Downs.
About Birdie Song
Birdie Song was born in Southeast Asia and now writes
from Perth, Western Australia on Whadjuk-Noongar country. She believes love is
more important than labels, integrity is a person’s most attractive quality,
and that no one should be judged for putting pineapple on a pizza. When not
writing, she tends to a veggie garden and reads a variety of books, hoping to
one day understand the meaning of life.
Website: https://birdiesongauthor.com
Newsletter: https://birdiesongauthor.com/newsletter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20263281.Birdie_Song
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/birdie-song
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