Together, we can do anything.

Four years ago, we took our agency philosophy of Brave and created a non-profit initiative called Today, I’m Brave. It’s a movement designed to unlock the bravery in all of us despite whatever our challenges may be.

It all began in a small Ebola stricken school of 300 children in Africa called Shine On Sierra Leone. Needless to say, they were up against some serious challenges. Together with the founder, Tiffany Persons and our staff at D&G, we created a curriculum for bravery to help inspire each other on a daily basis. They embraced it and made it their own. 

A few months later we received a video from them telling us how the movement transformed them. It was beyond moving to say the least. In addition to the school, there were 63 orphans who lost their parents to this deadly disease. These are kids who all lived close to each other only to have their parents disappear in the blink of an eye. We call them The 63 Brave. And rightfully so.

Since launching the initiative, we have achieved some pretty amazing things. We have inspired and been inspired along the way. Each time I presented Today, I’m Brave, I would mention the kids and how it all started. But even though the movement grew, I felt there was something missing. I had yet to meet the kids who helped kickstart it all.

This week, I met them for the first time. It was more than I could ever imagine.

The amount of love, compassion and gratitude I received from them was beyond words. The kids I’ve been talking about were suddenly right before me. It’s as if we all knew each other for forever. I expressed my gratitude for their bravery with the largest group hug ever.

After a few hours with them, it became my new normal. Throughout the next few days we did so many things together. I showed them firsthand how big the movement had grown because of them. All because they were Brave for embracing it. I gave them their Brave soccer balls and together we crafted their Brave manifesto. It all flowed so seamlessly. This experience gave me an even greater appreciation for the true power of bravery and how important it is to be a conscious creator. To let go of creating work just for ourselves, for our peers, but for the greater good of the whole. The greater good of the world. After all, the power of creativity, if properly utilized, is limitless. It gave me a glimpse of the impact we could create together. 

There is so much fear in the world, not because it’s trending. Not because it’s the easy thing to embrace. 

It’s because we don’t know how Brave we truly are. 

That no matter where we’re from, or the color of our skin, our gender, or our religious belief, we are all Brave. Every single one of us. We have this infinite potential to make life a better place for all, not the few. We just need to let go of our fears.

Brave doesn’t judge. It’s not about jumping out of an airplane or doing something scary. It’s about having the courage to be who you truly are and live it in everything you do. Whether you’re a person, a company or a country.

Brave is love. And the more we love ourselves and embrace our authentic truth, the more we unlock the Brave in ourselves and those around us.

And when we do that, the less fear there will be in the world.

Imagine a world with no fear.

Imagine a world where people set aside their differences and fears to create true change.

Imagine brands living their authentic truth and creating opportunities to help solve real challenges in the world and not just sell products.

Imagine a Braver world.

I can.

To the beautiful people of Shine On Sierra Leone, it’s amazing founder, the Muddy Lotus School and the 63 Brave, thank you for inspiring in ways you can’t imagine. 

Thank you for showing me the infinite possibilities of Brave.

Together, we Brave.

#todayimbrave #shineonsierraleone #togetherwebrave #herewego