Many years ago I had a well-known newspaper publisher say to me, “You are a gifted wordsmith. When you find your voice, you will be a gifted writer.” My heart sank. I felt as if the stories I was writing were reflective, deep – perhaps even profound. I was stringing words together in ways that would surely have an overwhelming effect on my readers – if I had readers.
Eventually I gave up deep and reflective, and concentrated on writing that would sell. I wrote childrens’ books for publishers in a voice they believed would be marketable. I wrote magazine articles about topics that editors said were timely. I wrote advertising copy for clients who believed my copy could sell their products. I spoke with everyone’s voice except my own.
When I started working on Well Past 50 I began to write with abandon. I began to talk to my peers about things that they, and I, care about. I had a platform to share ideas and actions that I thought would be helpful to others. I found myself allowing words to flow through me, instead of stringing them together because they sounded beautiful in the order I put them into. I found my voice and when I spoke in that voice, it felt like singing. It was no longer work, but a natural flow.
Why is this important to anyone but me? Because I believe so deeply that every person on this planet has a voice that needs to be heard. I believe that there is a time when everyone discovers their voice and has the opportunity to express what they were put on earth to express. It may be through art or dance or accounting. It may be through adopting a child or opening a coffee shop.
Whatever it is that gives you your voice, I believe that it is necessary to embrace it. This is the time in our lives when we know who we are and we have much to offer. I watch my friends change careers, leave their marriages, move to new places – and I hope it is because they have found their voices and are anxious to let them be heard. Like Lynne says, “There aren’t that many shopping days ‘til Christmas, Ladies.” Let’s get those stockings filled.
I firmly believe that we have been told always to keep our thoughts to ourselves, until we lose ourselves. Finding a voice is one way to get ourselves back before we forget who we are.
Posted by: M.K. | May 15, 2006 at 03:17 PM