Lisa Congdon - Fortune Favors the Brave: 100 Courageous Quotations

To every young girl in the world. Be brave.

Introduction and illustrations copyright 2015 by Lisa Congdon.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
form without written permission from the publisher.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN 978-1-4521-4410-8 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4654-6 (epub, mobi)
ISBN 978-1-4521-5296-7 (epub fxl)

Design by Kristen Hewitt

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Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you!
Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching
for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing.

Oscar Wilde

When I was thirty-one years old I got two words tattooed on my right arm. Those two wordstruth and couragelettered inside of banners blowing from the beaks of two barn swallows represented a conscious shift to live my life more authentically. Until that time, throughout my teens and twenties, I spent a lot of time attempting to fit into the mold of who I thought I should be and what I thought I should do with my life. By the time I was thirty I was bored, uninspired, clinically depressed, and quite truly stuck. And so, in an attempt to be happier, in the few years that followed and until this day (I turned forty-seven this year), it has been my lifes work to live every day in ways that feel true and good for me. At the core of this work is the assumption that I cannot be happy or achieve any level of satisfaction in life unless I am living in ways that are aligned with my core values, passions, and temperamentin other words, what I believe in, what makes me feel inspired, and what feels good to me.

Sounds easy enough, right? But it isnt. It takes enormous bravery and determination to be totally yourself, to pursue life dreams that others might not understand, to risk judgment, or to break out of unhealthy relationships, addictions, and habits. It also takes courage to forgive yourself when you falter along the way and to move on after you do or say things you later regret. Lets face itnone of us has a perfect path. In fact, accepting, even embracing, our missteps and imperfections (including the big ones) is part of the journey. And understanding that we all falter, that we are all beautifully imperfect, and that we are all in some way trying to live authentically connects us as humans.

Over the years, as I have attempted to live a happier, more authentic life, I have relied heavily on the words of other peoplewriters, thinkers, artists, philosophers, and yes, even regular peopleto guide and support my path. Indeed, sometimes reading an inspiring quote in a moment of self-doubt can change my entire outlook and remind me that despite my weaknesses or shortcomings, despite what others might think of me, I can do this.

Because I have grown not only to love but also to rely on the wise words of smart people, I have been hand lettering inspirational quotes for several years. I have also found that many people love to read inspiring quotes too, and so I began sharing them on my blog and then in my first book of hand-lettered quotes, Whatever You Are, Be a Good One. It felt like the most logical and important step to focus my next book of quotes (the one you are holding in your hands) on braverythe bravery required to live authentically, to be our best selves, to accept our mistakes and shortcomings, and to live, really live, a good and happy life.

It is no coincidence that the year I got the words truth and courage tattooed on my arm was also the same year I started drawing and painting. Living an authentic life meant finding a way to express my deepest fears and my most intense longings. I experimented with all kinds of things during that timecooking, sewing, writing, new athletic endeavorsall of which I still enjoy today, but making art made me feel thoroughly happy in a way I had never felt before. Many years later, making art has become my entire world, including my livelihood. I am so grateful for every person, every book I have read, and every word that gave me the strength to take risks and fight each wave of self-doubt I encountered.

I hope the brilliant words in this book provide encouragement and motivation for you as you tread the path of your own magnificent journey. May you live bravely and fully!