Thankful Thurday. - Voice.

"Nothing haunts us like the things we don't say." Mitch Albom.

Finding my voice took me a long time. I never could own what I believed and knew to be true...to  speak up and say those things on my heart. I used to walk away playing over and over in my head those things I should have said but didn't. I didn't want to be laughed at or silenced by someone's disapproving tone or look or told I didn't know what I was talking about. 

But I've learned that finding and using my voice is key to walking free. It's powerful to speak up and say those things that play in my heart, in our soul, in my mind. It's not about others agreeing or disagreeing with me. It's about me being true to myself.

I've learned over the years in writing, it's important to find and write in my own voice but I think it's equally important to find and use our voice in life.

I think about all the women who come to my workshops who have told me they've never been able to speak up, to voice what they feel, or think or believe. It's left them doubting themselves, feeling unimportant and angry.

Writer Louise Penny says it perfectly  - To be silent, in hopes of not offending, in hopes of being accepted. But what happened to people who never spoke, never raised their voices? Kept everything inside? Everything they swallowed, every word, thought, feeling rattled around inside, hollowing the person out. And into that chasm they stuffed their words, their rage.  Louise Penny. 

Happy Thursday, Guys.