thank you!

They had cookies made to match the book cover at the Houston launch!If you've seen my schedule, you know why I've been MIA on the blog for the past couple of weeks. I've been speaking and "book touring" every week. It's been amazing and exhausting. I've met so many wonderful and inspiring people. Even when I only have a few minutes to chat and sign a book, there's still the opportunity for connection. I'm grateful for that when I'm on the road. I need it.

I want to send a wholehearted thank you to everyone who has come out to the bookstores, sat in the audience at conferences, joined me for my first EVER webinar, wrote reviews on Amazon.com (they really help), emailed me, sent me supportive messages on Facebook and Twitter. I'm so, so grateful.

Broadcasted my first webinar from the kitchen table! It's also where I write!

I'm also thankful for everyone who participated in the Perfect Protest! As I mentioned in my last post, it has changed my life. In our culture, embracing imperfection takes a lot of courage. I can't tell you how many times I've struggled in the past month and turned to your posts and the video that Steve made. It's the most powerful reminder of all: I am NOT alone.

Also - thank you for your feedback on the TEDxHouston talk. Here's a true confession: The curators of the event didn't post the video for a long time. I was so relieved. I had such a vulnerability hangover about my talk. I had to call Karen after the event and ask, "Did I really talk about my breakdown spiritual awakening in front of all those people?" Her response? "Oh yeah, baby! You even had a slide!" The video is up and I've received the most incredible emails. Thank you.

TEDx Houston 2010 © Blue Lemon Photo

Last, thank you to Steve, Ellen, Charlie, my family and my friends. Thank you for holding down the fort, cheering me on, and believing in me.  The ordinary moments in my life are truly the most joyful!

Like our family bike ride on Saturday.

And carving pumpkins and roasting seeds!

And celebrating that Steve's little brother got engaged! Congrats to Jen and David!

And Ellen's first big Swim meet!

And getting to hang out with my little brother who lives in California. I was staying in San Francisco  and he drove me to Stanford University to give a lecture. On the way back to the hotel, he took me to lunch at Sam's Chowder House in Half Moon Bay. So nice to have that time with him.

And going to the Sound of Music Sing-Along with our good friends Monica and Maggie.

And helping Charlie make his "This is Me" poster for school.

And my sister's daily texts and pictures of my niece Gabi.

This is what it's all about!

And, thank you again for the support, encouragement, and connection!

I'd like to do another webinar soon. If you have any suggestions for topics or if there's something specific that you'd like to hear, let me know!

Comments

[Annie]

All I can do is applaud. All of it! Talks and books and bike rides and babies and swim meets. Thanks for being wholehearted and inspiring and for sharing a peek.

[Carolyn Bergen]

Here's a webinar idea....I'd love to hear about what you talked about earlier this month where it sounded like you were integrating ideas of shame, vulnerability, worthiness with faith. I would love to hear what the intersection of these looks like from your perspective.

[Christi]

I just want to thank you for your wonderfully fabulous book and blog. The idea that my house doesn't have to be perfectly neat all of the time (not that it ever was), that my child doesn't have to be perfectly dressed in her "weekend clothes" when we go out on Saturdays, and that it is okay that I don't have the same country clubbing/fancy house living/tennis playing/designer clothes wearing life as my life-long friends have is totally liberating. In reality, all of these things were making me feel like a terrible and guilty wife/mother/person for no reason. I realized I didn't want to pass those feelings on to my daughter.

I am certainly not totally cured in one reading, but your book is making me take a step back and stop when I start thinking negative thoughts about myself. I am planning on starting it over next week after I have a chance to think about it this week. I have been passing it on to all of my friends and telling everyone at I know in schools and womens groups that they need to have you come speak.

I know you must hear it, but I also know it can't help to hear it again - you have definitely made a difference with your research, your books, and your life. Thank you!

[Dee Dee]

A nice reminder of the gratitude > joy formula. :)

I've been thinking of Ze Frank's Chillout song for you all day: "Hey. You're ok. You'll be fine. Just breathe."

You grappling with your wonderfulness and your need to breathe are wonderful lessons for us as we grapple with our own.

[The Other Laura]

It was so great to see you here in SA, Brené and I'm so glad that Max came with me that day. We have had so many conversations about imperfection since then!

[Cheri A.]

I've now read "The Gifts of Imperfection" twice and highlighted all over the place! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book! Thanks for so much inspiration wrapped up in one neat little package! :)

[playcrane]

Now that I have a blog I know how much time it takes to do a post. Thanks for taking the time and hope you keep having fun along the way!

[~M~]

There are so many things in this post I could comment on.... congrats on everything and thanks for the fun pics.

But what I have to say is - HOLY MOLY! Your CA brother is hot!

Have a great fall.

[Alexandria]

This post brings a smile to my face. We really have a lot to be thankful for when we stop and take a look! Thanks for sharing your joys with us. :) And best of luck to you Saturday! I'll be there in spirit supporting you... all the seats are full!

Best wishes!

[Elizabeth]

I love that your life- minus the book signings and travel- is very simple and looks alot like mine. (I am a full-time mother of three small children.) I often feel like others live a more glamourous life and that I'm somehow missing the boat...it's nice to see that I'm not and that I'm right where I need to be.

@Christi- your entry speaks volumes. Know you are not alone. It's taken me years to accept that my children don't always look perfect, my house is far from perfect, and there are days I go out of the house and I forget things, or we are late... but that doesn't make me a bad person. It's a battle I fight with myself everyday....

[Susie Hollams]

Thank you so much for the depths of my being for your courage and vulnerability in sharing this video. I live in Cairns Queensland and was so impacted by what you said. I have just reached the wonderful glorious years of being 50 and I am now just discovering myself. My prayer is that through your research and book other people may discover these truths for themselves at an earlier age and thereby alleviate some painful years, some hurt relationships and some damaged children
Thank you once again
susieq

[Neri]

I was missing your posts. Your voice rings loud and clear. Am half way reading your book.
God Bless.

[Francie]

I just discovered your blog via a video my friend posted on Facebook. Your message is so reinforcing of the choices I have made in my life in recent years. Not only is your information invaluable but you are a gifted public speaker, and I have shared the video with friends!
It took me until my mid-40's to realize that I was living the life I was told I should live, not one that was authentic for me. Realizing at that point that not only did I have personal power, but that I had the right to take it back I began to make different choices. It has been a slow, very imperfect process, but oh so empowering and liberating! I am a quiet, introverted soul, and I share that it is possible to make these changes right where you are, while you are raising a child, working, walking side by side with your parents through their last years, and keeping a marriage intact through all the internal and external stresses of daily life.
Now at 62, I am recently retired, more happily married than ever, and pursuing my passion for photography and volunteering at some of the natural wonders that we have in our region. My life is now mine and I am co-creating with Source how I want it to manifest - and I feel so blessed to have a second chance to do so.
All of this has happened because at the age of 45 I began to learn how to live from the inside out, and to forgive myself, and give myself permission to be a flawed human being. I began to make different choices after watching my Mom and how miserable she was in her final years because she never was able to forgive herself for being imperfect or give herself permission to live authentically, she was always too concerned about what "They" would think.
I am definitely very much so a work in progress, always will be, and that's just fine. I struggle with sharing my images, but I am putting myself out there and doing it anyway. It is a joy and challenge at the same time, and my greatest opportunity for personal growth.
I so identify with your own struggle, thank you very much for sharing your feelings so honesty. I particularly appreciate your candor about your need to take time away to refuel, absolutely essential, but hard for some folks to understand.
I have bookmarked your blog, and will be a regular reader from now on. Thank you again for sharing your joy and your gifts with everyone!

[Anne Fraley]

There are too many things that I want to say, but I will offer just one right now. Your blog, your work, your presence is like balm on my wounded being. It helps me feel less alone in my struggles and makes it possible to "soldier on" when the going gets particularly rough. Thank you for sharing yourself with the rest of us. It really, truly matters.

[Christa.]

Your book and blog have underscored and supported the changes I have been making over the last few years - and that has been a huge blessing. Thank you.

For a webinar, how about something about sitting with ourselves, as we are right now. Change is good, but acceptance of what is - that can be challenging!

[Kim]

Congratulations on all that great exciting stuff! But also thank you so much for placing it in the context of all the great stuff of ordinary life too!

That helped me as I am just having to lay down a few big things that I've tried to make work this last year and they haven't, and I'm in that place where its a relief to say that and give em up but also tough to think about going back to just 'ordinary life' and it being enough. I'm part way through your book and I think its going to help me to be more honest about what has happened and why, and I know I'll survive and be stronger for all the experiences - eventually!

Thanks, Kim

[Janie]

Thanks for all of the encouragement and just being REAL...with all of us. Thanks for sharing your stories with us.

[Valentina]

Brene, a few weeks back I read about your Perfection Protest and got as far as putting your link in my sidebar. I never got around posting my sign: I am too well-rounded to be perfect! :)
But you stayed with me. And today, I listened to your talk in Houston. Thank you. You are talking about things that have been marinating in my heart for a long time. I wish I could tell you my story one day. (And funnily enough I have introduced myself on more than one occasion as a collector of stories. :)
I just want to say Thank You for being You. And sharing who you are with the rest of us: You are an inspiration and a fellow-struggler.
Valentina in Faraway Cyprus, a wife, mom, and quilter who used to be a paid psychotherapist once upon a time.
:)
Your books are on my christmas wish-list!

[Camilla]

I just watched the TEDxHouston talk. It was moved by it, and now I feel more motivated to engage in non-violent communication with myself and with others. (For a while now I've been trying to use the NVC process, as founded by Marshall B. Rosenberg. I find it an important, and very down-to-earth practical tool, for practicing compassion.) I also feel a little more confident facing uncertainty. I really needed that. Thank you!

[sue]

In my family, we call it guilt, and usually only the women have it...we feel guilty (sometimes intensely) that things are not perfect. I saw the video at http://erinrussek.typepad.com/one-piece-at-a-time/, and after 55 years and 5 children from 21 to 35, I can tell you that guilt has no place in my children's lives. I have always told them that (and tried to model it), but until today, didn't understand what they should replace it with, thank you for the 'wholehearted'.

[GraceNotes]

Thank you for posting the link to your TED talk. Exactly what I needed to hear tonight.

[Kim]

You are such an inspiration - I could listen to your TED talk again and again. My husband just rolls his eyes at yet another girl crush... Does everyone you meet want to be your friend? :)
Have a fabulous rest of your weekend~
K.

[Bosh]

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[CookeKrystal]

freelance writer