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Written by Karen D. Swim
Evan sat at his computer screen, unable to focus. His shoulders sagged with the weight of disappointment. It had been one of those weeks when failure had followed him around like a stray dog who adopts you as master after one meal. He rubbed his hands across his eyes in a futile effort to wipe away the memory of disappointment. His fingers found the keyboard and typed words into his search box. He clicked on a link and began to read.
The weariness lifted from his shoulders with each word he read, for it seemed that the writer was speaking directly to him. He scrolled up the page to check the name again. How could this stranger know exactly what Evan needed to hear on this day when he was so close to giving up?
The writer of course did not know Evan and had wrestled with the post. Hadn’t this already been said by so many others? Could he really add anything to the conversation? Did he even deserve to write about something that far greater minds had tackled?
On this particular day, Evan did not find those other great voices he found yours. One reader, a google search and your words connected in the randomness of life. Do you still believe you don’t matter?
It is easy to convince ourselves that our small voice is unimportant. We visit other spaces with hundreds of comments and raving fans and wonder why we bother with our tiny little corner of the world. Or perhaps we have an idea, an opinion but grow discouraged when we see how many others have had the same idea. They are not you, and that is reason enough to move forward in your dreams and not silence your voice.
That one person may not find everyone else but they will find you. Some have heard the words from others but never in the same way you expressed them. In a world filled with choices, allow people to choose you. Honor and respect the gifts you have been given by sharing them. Do not allow fear to silence you because you may very well be the one voice another needs to hear.
A very special hug and thank you to James Chartrand of Men With Pens for giving me back my voice when I feared it was lost.
Have you ever doubted your mission because of the “competition?” Did you overcome your doubt or did you walk away?
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Karen,
Your voice is one of the most eloquent, moving,and beautiful I’ve ever heard. Don’t ever let it be silenced.
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Hi Karen, I have been in that place too many times to count. And it’s the very thought of someone like Evan that keeps me going, because if out of hundreds of blog posts I have written, just one of them makes one person’s day or inspires them to keep going, then it is all worth it.
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Karen, you know my philosophy is that ‘your words count’, and I truly believe that if people write honestly, thoughtfully, with their experience behind them and values running through them, if they write with a positive intention to make a connection, to tell a story, to express an idea, to share some of their spirit… then their words will make a difference.
Yours do, more often than you’ll probably ever know, not least the comments you write for me which so often tell me just what I needed to hear.
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Karen: Thank you so much for this post. For those of us new to putting ourselves “out there” it can sometimes feel very daunting indeed. You’re a tremendous source of positivity and a great encourager to all of us. Never doubt that! And thank you for reminding us that we should never doubt ourselves, either.
-Kellye
Kellye Crane´s last blog post..Are You Ready for Faster PR?
Karen, Thank God you got your voice back. It’s not how many souls you touch, it’s how deeply you touch them. By that measure your voice has been one of the strongest I know.
Brad Shorr´s last blog post..Spiritual Renewal Monday
@Brett, knowing it encouraged you Brett makes me so very glad I posted it. 🙂
@Andrew, so true, so true. Blogging can be especially difficult because there are a multitude of voices online but even with millions of blogs we all have something to offer.
@Charlane, thank you for the gift of your words. Your words stirred my heart. You sum up so beautifully with these words: “I know I am living when I feel fearful.” Awww, yes, leaning into the fear and living, really living!
@George, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. It is good to know we’re not alone, isn’t it? 😉
@Ulla, I am truly thankful that you did not walk away. Your voice has been a tremendous inspiration to me!
Karen,
what a wonderful post! Yes, I have been afraid of the competition and no, I did not walk away. But it was the encouragement given to me by people like you and other friends who made me stay and speak with my voice. Thanks for doing that!
Ulla Hennig´s last blog post..Arabian Beauty
Karen,
Such a great post. It is easy to feel as if we are lost at sea, or that our voice is lost in a sea of others.
It’s great when we get tossed a bit of a life ring from someone who we respect and admire. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be much more than a word, or maybe a wink or a knowing smile. Sometimes a connection does the trick.
Thanks for putting it out there, Karen.
Nice job.
George
Tumblemoose´s last blog post..Your writing is killing your writing
As always Karen I love your post.
Yes I have had fear because of the competition. I walked away from opportunities when I was 17 and 18 years old because of that fear……but my voice inside my head would not let me know it was really just fear. I listened to the excuses, et. One of those opportunities happens to be the only one that I have had to work on letting go through the years. Now at 36, I welcome that fear. It drives me to allow others to help me when needed. It allows me to pay attention, pushing myself at times and at others times to sit quietly. I love fear now. I know I am living when I feel fearful.
Very, very, well said, Karen.
Each of us has our own unique voice to be heard. Granted, there are many bloggers out there who may not connect with us as individuals or relate to our particular style of writing.
But there are some who will, and it would be a sheer waste if we were not to share our feelings or ideas with these people.
Andrew´s last blog post..Four rants about AIG’s ‘poor performance’ bonus
This is perfect today, Karen.
Each of us has a voice, and our words can and will affect people we do not even know, in ways we can’t possibly imagine.
With that in mind, how can we not share our ideas?
Thanks for sharing an encouraging message today – Brett