One word showed up strongly on my 2020 vision board: Share.
I’m a writer. I believe in the power of words. I write for business, for education and for marketing purposes. I trust my skills to elicit results when working on those projects.
I’m also an introvert. So, where an extrovert might call friends and have long chats, I grab a pen or keyboard and write long passages. I have decades of journals, reams of poetry, a completed novel, and three books in draft stages. My private words. My silent stories.
Stories that may not stay silent any longer. I blame that on a compliment.
A woman I was mentoring told me she aspired to be Me. She said wanted to do what I did, and help others achieve their potential.
Wow. I’d never believed that sharing my stories and experience would make a difference to anyone other than friends and family (who love me no matter what).
I always knew words were my superpower. Yet it was this woman’s words that made me realize that I have more to give. And to give more, I have to share my gift.
Fear and I had a long, convoluted conversation that night. We agreed that Preparation = Confidence. I would be more prepared to “take the stage” if I learned the crafts of speech writing and stage performance. Which is why I spent a year immersed in Heroic Public Speaking programs.
On March 11, I took the leap. I gave a presentation for an International Women’s Day event.
My talk explored how labels affect us – and how changing the words we use to describe ourselves can change our lives. Afterwards, several members of the audience came up, excited about insights they’d had. Their excitement was contagious, and I vowed to share these ideas again.
I didn’t count on Covid19 and physical distancing.
But I can still share.
I’m back to writing, this time on social media. My objective has not changed with this pandemic. I still want to inspire one person at a time to connect with the power of words to change lives.
I committed to writing an alphabet series, using a series of words to share my feelings, emotions, thoughts – and even fears – on FaceBook and LinkedIn. this post is the “S” of the series. The entire series is available on request.
If you’re in the mood for sharing, I’d love to know if my words have connected with you during these crazy, chaotic times.
Words matter. You matter.
