Discovering Your Creative Voice Again

My baby, Shawn just turned one. He babbles. He screams. He laughs uncontrollably for no apparent reason (I swear he sees angels playing on the walls!). His life coach (aka his nanny) says that he’s discovering his voice. He is coming to the realization that his vocal cords can produce sounds that emit a certain energy. These sounds also activate a response from those around him. When he laughs randomly, we laugh. When he shrieks while we’re in church or the library, we suddenly embrace him in order to quiet him. When he blurts out a word we can actually recognize, we smile surprisingly and celebrate.

He knows his voice can and will solicit a response. He knows his voice can evoke a change in his environment and the people within it.

He knows this truth, yet has only been alive for a year. We knew this too but have seem to have forgotten it.

I was recently in a situation where I needed to use my voice to advocate about an injustice. Everyone around me was afraid to speak up in fear of retaliation but I, knowing that my voice has power and can be used to advocate for my students, knew I needed to say something, even if it meant there would be a target on my back.

I knew my voice has power and if used correctly, can elicit a response for positive change.

When the prestigious BMe Vanguard Fellowship opened, I knew I needed to apply. One of their focuses was to partner with the OpEd Project to train the fellows to better use our voice and spread our message on a national level. The dynamic training we received catapulted my confidence to know that my credentials had substance, my opinions had value, and my message had merit for a national audience.

Your vocal cords don’t exist just so you can order a latte. Like money, your voice is energy – it’s a tool – and can be used for either good or evil. Your words carry power that can create or destroy. It is up to you if you decide to effectively use it for a cause you care about or you can merely use it to discuss who got kicked off the island or hail a taxi (but seriously who does that anymore? Uber please!!).

As I head into this next season of my life, advocating for all children to acquire creative and financial tools for a life well lived, I am reminded of the ancient script of Proverbs 31 where a mother reminds her royal son, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Yes, defend the rights of the poor and destitute.”

I am in a similar situation but it is my son reminding me to speak up. If Shawn is having the time of his life discovering his voice, it’s time for us to join in the thrilling adventure of rediscovering ours.

Here is my graduation speech on reminding everyone to Be Heard – Be Brave – Be You