“Speak your truth or it will speak for you.”
Michael Nolan
Dear one,
I spoke yesterday to a wonderful group of people about personal safety and reminded them that speaking up for yourself is necessary for your own health and well being. Speaking up can be therapeutic. When we hide things – whether by lies or silence – our mind and body are keeping tabs. When I served in the Air Force under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, I was forced to hide things about myself in order to comply with orders. It wasn’t until my physical and mental health had reached a critical breaking point that I finally spoke my truth and began the process of receiving a discharge from service.
I spoke my truth because my silence had caused my truth to speak for me until it nearly ended my life. Going to testify in Washington D.C. about my experience was one of the most difficult and empowering things I’ve ever done, but I was compelled to push on because I was back in the driver’s seat of my own life and no one was going to speak for me again.
Use your voice and advocate for yourself, even when it isn’t easy. Don’t let anyone else write your story.
Never forget that I love you, and that excludes no one.
Love,
