Abraço e BAM anO
Let me tell you something about being bold. Last March, I took a trip to Mozambique with a group of black students from HLS. Our trip was arranged by the consulate there, and because I am the bold person I am, I made it a point to tell our liason that I would really love to meet, if possible, Mia Couto. For those that have not heard of him, Mia Couto is a Mozambican author. I wrote my college thesis on him, after falling in love with his books while living in Portugal. His writing is beautiful and made me feel like I had experienced Mozambique before I ever even visited.
So being gutsy, I asked if they could arrange a meeting. My travel companions will tell you that I acted like a straight up GROUPIE when they said that they contacted him and he may come to a reception for us. Authors get me more excited than any movie star ever could.
Unfortunately, he was travelling and couldn’t make it. But he sent his email and phone number for me to contact him. Again, I almost had an aneurisma from pure joy.
But here’s the thing–I never wrote him. Many times, I said, hey I should send him an email! Then I questioned myself. What do I say? Do I write in English or in Portuguese? Is my Portuguese even that good? What if my email makes no sense? What if he never replies? What if he thinks I’m stupid for emailing him an error-filled, nonsensical note? You see, I have been bold, but only up to a point. Bold enough to get me halfway there. Bold enough to take the first step before fear overtakes my boldness. And I never wrote him.
But in this 2016, I made myself a promise. I was going to put my money where my mouth was, in every aspect of my life. If I wanted something, I would take it. I’m not asking for permission this year. I am doing. And part of that meant not holding myself back because of a bunch of stupid ass what-ifs. I’m being bold enough to take the second step.
Last night, I wrote him. In Portuguese. I apologized for it taking so long. I apologized for any errors. And I said what I wanted to say. And this morning, he wrote me back.
Friends, be bold this year. All the way. Take. Do. Create. Send that email. And, in the words to one of my favorite authors to me, “Abraço e bom ano.”
