I have a Voice
We all do - it’s what we do with it; that's the thing.
I seem to recall and being told that as a kid I was quite vocal with my thoughts (like father like daughter) and very stubborn and closed minded (thanks mum for reminding me of that). I still can be stubborn but now it is with an open mind and I am willing to listen.
I went through a phase when I shut my mouth, stopped conversing and holding, sharing opinions. The reason? A guy I was dating didn’t like it, he didn't like “confrontation” or debate. When we went for dinner if I ended up in deep discussions that could get, let's say intense, he’d be in a sulk.
Unfortunately I changed. Instead of going “ok - well this is me, love and accept all of me or maybe we’re not right together” - I stayed and became a shadow of who I was. Even today this story can replay in my mind when I meet men and want them to like me - I change if I'm not aware. I now hear it and have the choice to go “Oi piss off” and be who I am and want to be - which is someone who loves debating and discussions and getting into the nitty gritty of life.
I have been on a Netflix frenzy recently and watched some amazing documentaries, The one that inspired this blog was about teenage trafficking in the USA - “I am Jane Doe”
In the USA, young American girls (many 14) are being watched to see which ones seem the easiest to lure away from their life, the ones with downcast eyes, sad demeanours, and often on their own. They are taken away, fed drugs and sold for sex via "backpage".
A few have been found by their families relentless search for their lost daughters and have taken the advertisers and website to court to fight for these young girls, to be their voice.
The documentary is this year, this is happening NOW…
We all have a voice to speak out against the atrocities that happen in this world and we never know the effect our voices - but if we don’t use them there definitely won’t be any effect.
My last blog was about connection, or rather the lack of it in the world. If we continue to close our eyes against the things that happen in other countries the disconnect continues. I stopped reading the news in my late 20s, I couldn’t handle it as I became overly emotional and literally hated what we do to each other.
I now read it again, I still get emotional but not in the same way and I am actually enjoying knowing what is happening around the world. I never thought I would. And I can do something about it - by blogging, sharing what I hear, listening to others and being a bigger part of this world.
I feel more connected to myself, my friends, my family, my clients (who are my friends…), the planet and nature - and I have a voice.