Stann Creek, Belize – People often ask me if the twins have really distinctive personalities (as if I might answer “No, they are really the same person inhabiting two bodies”). Here is a little case in point for people who feel the need to ask. This photo was taken in the midst of our ride on the longest zipline in Belize, located at the Bocawina Rainforest Resort.
Twin V on the left: confident, cool, collected. Twin S on the right: terrified, silly.
This was the twins’ first zipline–something they have been talking about since our first trip to Costa Rica. I’m pretty sure Twin V loved every minute, because he told me so.
As for Twin S, he said it was scary. But he wanted to try it (as long as his brother went first); and he did. This is what he looked like when he landed on the platform after a few runs.
I thought Twin S was very brave to try ziplining, and I told him so. But I’m reminded of a post by Glennon Doyle Melton of Momastery, who wrote This is What Brave Means. “It does not mean being afraid and doing it anyway. Nope. Brave means listening to the still small voice inside and doing as it says.”
I’m sure I’m not the first to note that a kid’s “voice inside” is not that small. Not my guys’.
But I appreciated the post and I needed to read it. “Brave people block out all the yelling voices and listen to the deepest voice inside the quietest, stillest place in their heart. If that voice says JUMP, they jump. And if that voice says TURN AROUND – they turn around, and they hold their head high.”
I think my guys are still young that the voice inside is actually much louder than any other voices they might hear (they certainly don’t have any trouble blocking me out). But I know that changes as kids get older and become more aware of expectations and judgments. I’m the mom who is usually yelling JUMP. And if I keep it up, my voice could start to drown out their own inner voices, which might be saying something different.
This time, Twin S really did want to try the zipline (as long as his brother went first). Next time, he might not. My hope is that he will always be brave enough to listen to his own voice inside–and at this point I don’t think he’ll have any problem with that.
The greater challenge will be for me to be patient and wise enough to accept and honor whatever that voice says.