Finding Your Voice

I don’t know about you, but I have found that many women my age (52) and older have a hard time finding and using their “voice”. I’m not talking about their literal voice box of course, but instead, I’m referring to finding the power, confidence, or ability to share what matters most to them. Many of us grew up in the age of “children should be seen and not heard”, or our parents grew up with that concept, and then they struggled when it came time to parent kids who might have a lot to say. (Yes, I might be speaking from experience here).

Finding your voice is about more than choosing the right words—it’s about embracing who you are and letting that shine through in everything you say and do. For many, sharing personal thoughts and experiences can be intimidating. I know I have spent ridiculous amounts of time worrying about what others will think, and feeling like my words won’t be understood.. or even worse, won’t matter.

But the truth is, your voice is simply the way you see and experience the world, and it’s exactly what makes your story valuable. Your voice and your story are shaped by your experiences, your happy moments and your difficult ones. It’s affected by trauma you may have experienced, and challenges you’ve overcome. Your voice is unique to you – and it’s important.

As you blog, write, craft or create – learn to trust your voice and your experiences. Remind yourself that your story matters and it is your legacy. (Ok, I’m writing these words to “you”, but really I’m totally preaching to ME).

I’ll be talking a lot more about story, and specifically YOUR STORY, and what you have to offer by sharing it. I hope you’ll also join me as I continue to work on finding my voice and sharing my story. I also plan to share the life stories of my two grandmothers, who I interviewed at length almost 30 years ago. More on that in another post!

I’d love to hear feedback on this concept of voice. Do you have a hard time using your voice? Do you think your story doesn’t matter, or are you excited to share what you have to offer? Let me know your thoughts!