Start with Expression

Written by Abigail Bryson

A Little Less Perfection, A Little More Expression

I am genuinely happy that you are here, reading my very first public expression.
As you may have read on my Author page, I created this space to express, create, explore and collaborate. But before any collaboration can truly exist, there must first be expression.

As a child, I was energetic, bubbly and naturally social.

Me <3

Yet somehow, I never truly learned how to express my thoughts and emotions openly.

As I grew older and began interacting with many different people, I became aware of how important expression is. I wanted to speak, create and share more of myself, but I was still nervous. Deep down, I did not always feel that I was allowed to express myself. I questioned whether what I wanted to say would be understood, welcomed or accepted.

So I started small.

I began taking photo’s and videos of beautiful spaces, meaningful experiences and ordinary moments that felt special to me. My friends would often ask: “Why do you take so many pictures and videos but never share them?”

I would always answer that they were for my own memoirs.

And in a way, they were. They were proof that I had been there. That I had experienced something.

Slowly, I began sharing some of those moments through WhatsApp and IG. Most of the time, I still hesitated. Sometimes I would post something and quickly remove it, or only allow it to be seen once. I wanted to be visible, but I was

While I was learning to share more of my experiences, I came across the podcast ByHindzSight. ( see link below).His reflections are beautiful to listen to while commuting, cleaning or simply moving through the day. In one episode, he explained that one of the highest forms of nourishment is our expression.

That message stayed with me.

Every one of us is unique.

“ When we express yourselves in a way that is true to who we are, we connect more deeply with life. We are not here ti exist. We are here to connect, create and allow life to move through us.”

I loved that message, but I still did not fully understand what my own expression looked like.

Then, one day, I came across Ayana Stood’s YouTube series Fear of Being Seen. She spoke about being seen as our birthright, a gift we are meant to cherish, even though society can sometimes condition us to shrink, hide or silence parts of ourselves.

Being seen is not necessarily about ego, attention or praise.Sometimes, being seen is simply the honest expression of self.

Life expresses itself everywhere.

Through nature.

Through movement.

Through people.

Through music.

Through colour.

Through creation.

Life does not apologise for showing itself.


So why should we?

I felt deeply inspired, but I was still asking myself the same questions:

How should I show up? What should I share? What does my expression even look like?

I did not have all the answers. But I knew I had to start.

Strangely enough, one of the things that finally pushed me forward was renovating the bedroom in my rental home.

For a long time, I did not want to spend money or energy making the room truly mine because, technically, it was not mine. I kept telling myself that I would decorate properly once I had purchased my own home.

I was waiting for the perfect space.

After several unsuccessful attempts to find my own place in Amsterdam, I became fed up with waiting. I decided to decorate my bedroom exactly the way I wanted it.

And it turned out beautifully.

The space finally felt like me.

That was when something clicked.

I realised that I did not have to wait for the perfect moment, the perfect house or the perfect circumstances to start creating a life that felt like mine.

I could begin where I was.

There is a reminder that says:

Start messy. Start scared. Start tired. Start broke. But just start.

So here I am.

Starting before I completely understand where this path will lead.

I believe that sometimes we must first show ourselves that we are committed. We must take the first step before the how, the what and the complete vision are revealed.

The path often becomes clearer while we are walking it.

The ideas come while we are creating.

The confidence grows while we are practising.

The direction appears while we are moving.

But first, we have to take the step.

So, should you also find yourself wondering where or how to begin, begin where you are.

Begin with what you have. Allow yourself to experiment, and please try to have some fun along the way. When your intention is sincere and you continue to show up, life has a beautiful way of meeting you halfway.

I am taking these steps as I write this.It is exciting. It is vulnerable. And yes, it is a little nerve-racking.

But losing my authentic expression and my connection to myself because I was too afraid to try would be a far more expensive price to pay.

So this is me choosing expression.

This is me allowing myself to be seen.

This is me starting.

Thank you for reading my very first blog.

On to the next expression.

Signed with love,

Abigail

Abigail Bryson’s Quotes expressions: Confidence

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