Our Voice

“Powerlessness and silence go together. We…should use our privileged positions not a a shelter from the world’s reality, but as a platform from which to speak. A voice is a gift. It should be cherished and used.” Margaret Atwood

It was the last two sentences in this quote by Margaret Atwood that caught and held my attention. As I have said before in this space I am an introvert, something I didn’t realize until well into my adult life. I remember teachers throughout my schooling making comments like “Lynn needs to put up her hand more often.” Lynn needs to take a more active part in group discussions.” As I became an adult, I learned that I still shouldn't take part in discussions then either, unless it was just to agree with what was being said. That was so much simpler than trying to explain why I had made the comment that I had.

It took meeting someone later on in life, who actually listened, and not only listened, but accepted what I said as having value, that I began to develop MY voice. It wasn’t easy. It didn’t happen overnight.

I started leading a small group. When the discussions bogged down with everyone saying they agreed with whatever was being discussed, I would toss out the thought that was hiding in my head It never failed to provoke a heated discussion, after which the others in the group would end up sharing what was really in their heads and hearts at that time. But I lived in fear of one day saying something that would be deemed unforgivable.

I hate metaphors! At the training sessions for leading my small group, we were constantly being asked to come up with metaphors. There would be a long silence and finally I would offer MY metaphor. I soon realized that while this did ‘break the ice’ for other suggestions to be made, it was basically useless to try and explain how My metaphor worked for me.

This blog is now my voice. When it was first suggested to me that I might write one, it took another 14 months for me to act on that suggestion. Given my life experiences, I was quite sure that no one would be interested in, or relate to, anything I had to write. So as I go into the sixth year of writing and publishing these blogs, I must thank you, my readers, for helping me find my voice. I will always remember those words of Margaret Atwood’s, “A voice is a gift. It should be cherished and used.”

“None of us are getting out of here alive…Say the truth you’re carrying in your heart like a hidden treasure…There’s no time for anything else.” Anthony Hopkins

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