A few months ago I found myself caught up in the book Imperfect Courage. Imperfect Courage tells Jessicia Honeggar’s story of starting Noonday, which in Jessica’s words is a “socially conscious fashion brand.”
If I were a traditionalist, we would start with the beginning of the book, but I’m about as rigid with traditions as I am with diets.
So heck, lets start at the end.
Jessica concludes her book with a compelling invitation to us all.
The invitation is “to shine light like it’s noonday…that those things that kept you couch bound would no longer have sway over you and that today would be the day you stand up and choose a life of imperfect courage.” (Imperfect Courage, 220)
Here’s the challenge I face.
How do I apply Jessica’s invitation to my everyday life?
The one where I have a full time job, perpetual loads of laundry and 14 missed calls. The one where my toddler child literally just dumped a box of side walk chalk on to my lap top as I type this. Yep, that one.
Here are four principles that I’m taking away from Imperfect Courage.
These are things I gathered from the book that I can do with my crazy day job and toddler child. Things I can do as I struggle through the day while fueled by one latte, one coffee and one shot of espresso. (That’s an actual recount of my caffeine intake today.)
1. Support Noonday and other ethical fashion brands.
Last week I wrote an entire post featuring some of my favorite companies that do good for the world. But just buying myself cute stuff to support these companies, would be missing a huge piece of the calling to show up to this mission.
2. Get out of your comfort zone!
One of the themes Jessica returns to throughout the book is to get out of your comfort zone.
“When was the last time your heart thump-thumped inside your chest because you’d ventured to the edge of your comfort zone…?” (Imperfect Courage, 36) she challenges. She encourages us to listen for the big comfort zone changes i.e. a different school for kids or do a speaking event and the small ones too, like checking in on a friend. Getting out of our comfort zone will look different for all of us, but find where your being tugged on and go!
3. Listen to those around you!
Noonday began because Jessica listened. She listened to a friend who offered her some jewelry created by two artisans in Uganda. In a desperate need to earn money for her own adoption, she decided to host a gathering at her house. Much to her surprise the goods sold. And from then on she was on to something.
But it started with open ears. I know that for me listening in the midst of my daily hustle can be such a challenge. But if I don’t listen, I cannot hear what God is unveiling.
4. We are Better together.
Jessica is a cheerleader for collaboration. Collaboration is so against our intensely independent culture that its refreshing to hear her perspective. I love when she talks about a “sisterhood effect” stating that it happens when “we let empathy triumph over judgement and let collaboration win over comparison” (Imperfect Courage, 120).
What began as an attempt to raise money for her own personal adoption, is currently a company that has “four thousand Noonday business owners in the United States and over forty-five hundred artisan partners in twelve countries around the world!” (Imperfect Courage, 8).
I’m amazed and grateful for Noonday and other companies with like minded missions. Without them, the world can feel quite dreary.
I hope you’ve learned something from these short and sweet takeaways. They of-course, don’t do the book justice. I would encourage you to read Imperfect Courage when you can and definitely check the beautiful pieces over at the Noonday website.
Until next week, cheers!