“You know, sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, just literally 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery, and I promise you something great will come of it.”

― Benjamin Mee-We Bought a Zoo

I have never seen the movie but maybe now I will. When I read that quote and thought how true. I couldn’t have read it at a better time. I was having one of those days when having a meltdown sounds pretty good and if I was a baby, I’m sure I would have. You know those days you wake up maybe a little crabby and all the normal things that you do in the morning without effort take effort and don’t go smooth. You start to wonder if you should have stayed in bed, but you can’t because life goes on even if it’s not smoothly.

This was were I was at but trying to make the best of it when I read that quote. My mind went into over drive I thought I have 20 seconds to be kind and not have a crabby attitude. I think that was the longest 20 seconds I have had in awhile but I made it through. I moved on with a little more of my day with that thought of I can be nice for 20 seconds and for me on a crabby day that is real courage.

That day kept me in the moment, it kept me mindful, and how to be nice when I don’t want to be. How when everything feels like its just one big crap shoot you can still rise above it even if it is just for 20 seconds at a time.

20 seconds may seem short, but when you are trying to have “insane courage” and be “embarrassing brave” it’s a lifetime. Isn’t it just that, how funny when broken down it can be so do able. If done, then that is when we get “something that is great”. We get a good life even when things are going just the opposite of great. Even in a moment when you get the dreadful call with some news you never wanted or thought you would ever get 20 seconds of stepping out of our bad mood and being kind is just as infectious as the problems but what peace and contentment we have, making others want it.

Maybe next time someone cuts you off or miss treats you think 20 seconds, I know I will. We all are walking in some really uncomfortable shoes now but 20 seconds of kindness goes a long way and who can’t be brave for 20 seconds?

This did help me; my day stayed the same and the news was just as bad, but my attitude didn’t and with a better attitude, I could handle life a little better.

I also started to remember a Bible verse I love because it really breaks down what is required of us and it is simple especially when done at 20 second intervals.

Micah 6:8

⁸ He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,^[a]
    and to walk humbly with your God?