“Leave safety behind. Put your body on the line. Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind – even if your voice shakes. When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say. Well-aimed slingshots can topple giants. And do your homework.”
Maggie Kuhn
My dear one,
This morning I awoke thinking about this Pride month, and how many people allow themselves to shrink rather than to speak their truth. It breaks my heart to remember the years when I lived a lie just to survive, and knowing that there are so many others who feel they have no choice but to do the same is gut-wrenching. I remembered this quote from Maggie Kuhn, so after I made my coffee I searched it out to ensure I had it exactly right; that’s when I realized that the quote had a lot more to offer than the most commonly quoted part: “speak your mind – even if your voice shakes“.
I adore the sentence about well-aimed slingshots toppling giants. In the greater context of the quote, that line offers hope for a better outcome to someone who may not believe that they are capable of speaking their mind. When you feel like you’re not seen or heard, hope is the most precious gift you can get.
If that quote resonates for you and you feel the need to speak your mind, I hope you are able to muster up the courage and support such an act requires. If you’re not ready today, don’t beat yourself up over it; you’ll get there when the time is right. Hold on to hope and keep your focus on where you want to be because you deserve to be treated with love, dignity, and respect.
If the quote doesn’t feel applicable to you, I would encourage you to live your own life in such a way that the people around you will gain strength from your example. That may sound daunting or difficult, but when you are living your truth, speaking your truth is a lot easier to manage. When you’re living an authentic life and thriving, you’re offering hope to people who aren’t there yet.
And never forget that I love you.
Love,
