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?