One day when I was fighting with my brother over something probably minor, my mother made us be quiet. You see, there were guest adults in the shared space, and we were both taught – my brother and I – to be quiet around adults (excluding our parents… or at least our mother). The cliché “Children should be seen and not heard” was often used as a reminder of our ‘place’. It got to be that I would feel I’d done something wrong if I spoke ‘out of turn’; that is, if I spoke up when there wasn’t a need.
For much of my life, especially as a teenager and young adult, I was quiet. I’m still quiet most of the time, except when I feel the need to add to a conversation… which is not that often. Still rarely speaking ‘out of turn’, I no longer have a fear of doing something wrong. And the habit of remaining quiet remains.
Some who have experienced the other end of my voice lately may not agree, and others would agree, depending on the context. It all depends on whether I feel it’s my turn.
How I use my voice is something I continue to build an awareness of. Thank goodness there’s always something to learn and grow through!
The point, though, is this: our voice is how we communicate our unique beauty and power. Some of us use our voice a great deal, others are sparing. Whichever kind of voicer you are, I hope you use it to add to the beauty and power of your world.
Quote of the Week
“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”
― Madeleine K. Albright
The little risks you can take to increase your luck
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Maryanne Nicholls is a Registered Psychotherapist. To find out more, gain access to her weekly newsletter, meditations and programmes, sign up at www.thejoyofliving.co .
Maryanne