Colors of the Brave
There’s something about Asheville — the way these ancient mountains wrap around us like the protective arm of a timeless goddess, the way creativity seeps through the cracks of old brick buildings, the way the crisp air gives space to sparkle. It whispers, Be who you are.
Maybe that’s why so many of us have found our way here — seekers, makers, lovers, wanderers. People who needed space to breathe, and room to unfold.
Each year, when Pride rolls through town, that spirit bursts into color like our mountains. Rainbow flags ripple from bungalows on the west side and coffee shops downtown, music spills down College Avenue, and for a couple of radiant days the city becomes a living, loud, and nurturing canvas. But Pride is more than a parade — it’s an act of remembrance and resistance, of love and liberation. Every person who steps into that street — in heels, in boots, in bare feet — is declaring a quiet revolution: I am me. It is an honor to witness it.
Still, there’s another layer to that courage. It’s not only brave to stand in your truth — it’s brave to stand beside someone else in theirs. The parent who walks hand-in-hand with their trans child. The shop owner who flies the flag knowing it may ruffle a few colorless feathers. The reclusive neighbor who comes out just to witness and show their support from the edges. Those are the colors of brave, too — not loud, not always visible, but steady and bright.
{In these mountains, courage isn’t measured by the weight of what you carry, but by the light you share. Real bravery isn’t armed — it’s open. It shows up. It listens. It loves.}
Asheville has always been that kind of place — independent, open-hearted, and a little wild around the edges, yet deeply maternal. Our mountain roots run deep, reminding us that strength isn’t sameness; it’s diversity bound by respect. To live authentically is courageous. To build a community where others can do the same — that’s how courage becomes legacy. That’s why I love this town.
The colors of brave aren’t just worn — they’re lived. In every act of kindness, every moment of truth, every soul that chooses love over fear. That’s Asheville at its best — and that’s Pride, in every shade of human being.
So let’s do this Pride thing — together — and celebrate our own unique form of bravery. Yeah!
With PRIDE and love,
Troy
