01/28/2016
Thought of the day: PLEASE USE YOUR VOICE.
Dear Ones -
Often when I am out in public doing events, I will get questions from women who want to write their story in the world, but who are still holding themselves back.
"Writing a story" doesn't just mean literally writing a book, by the way — although it often does. To me, "writing a story" means living your life intentionally, independently, brazenly, and out loud.
A lot of women I meet are still afraid to write the story of their lives. They speak of a fear of rejection, a fear of criticism, a fear of backlash, a fear of failure.
What I always say to these women is, "If you can't do it for yourself, please do it for your sisters. Please write your story in the world, for the benefit of other women."
For centuries, women's voices have been silenced. If you are lucky enough to have been born at a moment in history when you can actually speak in public — when you are allowed to actually EXIST in the world as an autonomous human being — please don't remain quiet and small. If the external bonds of oppression have been lifted from you, please don't oppress YOURSELF by staying quiet in the corner, just as your great-great-grandmothers did out of necessity.
If only out of regard and respect to all those generations of intelligent but powerless women before you who had no choice except to remain silent and invisible (and often illiterate) — please use your voice. You will have a bigger and richer life for it. Also, by using your voice in public, you will empower your sisters to feel more confident about using their voices.
Are there consequences for writing your story in the world — for having a public voice? Sure.
Might you be rejected? Yes.
Will you get criticized? Oh, hell yeah.
Is there sometimes a backlash? Yup.
Can you expect to fail? You bet.
Is it still better than being silent in the corner? ABSOLUTELY.
This proverb speaks beautifully about why people whose voices have not traditionally been heard in society (women and minorities and the dispossessed) must write their stories in the world. So please do whatever you can in order to live your life out loud. Please speak up. Please start businesses. Please run for public office. Please launch a non-profit. Please ask for that raise and fight for that promotion. Please acquire property and bank accounts that are in your own name. Please be an activist. Please make books and art and music. Please demand to be seen and heard and respected. Please make some noise in this world.
ONWARD LIONS,
LG