Be a camp fire, not a candle!

This little refrain has cropped up in my house – it’s odd, I know – but it has been adopted quickly and seemingly effectively – even by my youngest.

Here’s the backstory… At school my eldest has been learning about fire safety and so naturally we spent Friday night lighting a campfire in our garden, roasting marshmallows (generously donated by our neighbours because, impromptu fire!) and talking about why a fire is so mesmerising.

And then, spin forward a few days into another bout of loadshedding and we find ourselves at the dinner table lit by all the candles we can find.

In the soft glow that seems to bring out all the things we never say, we discussed the difference between a candle and a campfire. Candles are blown out with just a puff… but campfires burn strong and bright. Campfires are perfect for those sticky-sweet oozing marshmallows but candles just don’t quite have the same effect (we know, we’ve tried!). Campfires are mesmerising, strong, tenacious. Candles, just aren’t.

To build resilience, bravery, courage, character… we’re telling our girls to be a campfire, not a candle. Don’t be blown out by just one drive-way trip and scrape. Don’t be snuffed out by bad moods or bad attitudes. Don’t dwindle away quickly when you’re frustrated or angry. Be a campfire. When things blow at you, use them, grow stronger. Be brave and burn anyway, even if you’re scared. Burn on, burn bright, burn strong. 

We may have wildfires on our hands in a few months… but if those are wildfires of kindness when surrounded by sadness, I am good with that. If they’re wildfires of bravery and tenacity to “do it scared”… let’s go! If we’ve got wildfires of resilience and courage and persistence… let it burn, wild and free!

It starts by choosing to be a campfire, not a candle!

Do you need to be a campfire about something in your own life? I know I do! Let’s burn bright, strong and brave…