Does my Voice Matter?
I used to think my voice didn't matter. After all I'm only one voice amid a sea of millions. I would think "How does my voice matter?"
There have been a few things in my lifetime that I have spoken up for and have proven to myself that my voice does matter. I used to think "I am only one person and it's not possible that what I feel will make ay difference."
I take you to a troubled time in our nation . It was election time about 1992 and the NAFTA treaty was being considered in Congress. I couldn't believe what I was hearing about this treaty. so I called my Senator and requested a copy of the treaty. Of course, I only spoke to a receptionist, but indeed, I got a copy of the very lengthy treaty.
I Was Only 1 of 3 People
The important thing to remember about this experience is that I ALSO got a personal phone call from my Senator stating that I was only 1 of 3 who had phoned him and shown an interest. Only one of three in my great state? Was I heard? WOW!
It mattered enough to warrent a personal phone call from my busy Senator.
The NAFTA treaty passed in 1994. Did my voice matter? It mattered to my Senator, and it mattered to me. I got to read the document in hard copy. (This was before the internet was really involved in my life. Today they would just email a copy to you.
About 9 or 10 years later when BYUTV started broadcasting from their own network they put some station programming on that held for several years. One day the Scriptture Study timr was moved to a different hour. Another day it was found at a different time. There was no dependability in their programing it seemed.
I sent an email to them with my complaint that there was no dependability there, like the NEWS at 10 and 6 you can always depend on. I told them I would appreciate them changing it back to the original timing, because I had gotten used to having lunch with the Scripture Study program, I was certain I wasn't the only one depending on them.
No sooner than I had sent my email, the programming for Scripture Study reverted back to the original time and has remained there ever since.
Not On Sunday
A few years later they obviously got some new blood into the programming department at BYUTV. They started having silly game shows and relative races on Sunday. I don't know about you, but I like my Sundays to do gospel study and learning about God and His Majeasty.
So, you guessed it, I again sent an email off to them stating that I felt there was no redeeming value in programming like that on Sunday. Not on BYUTV! If they wanted to play those shows on other days of the week, that is OK, but not on Sunday.
If I had only complained about it without giving a solution to the problem, I may not have been listened to. But I suggested programming for them to use instead; that they play talks from Women's Conference, or Education Week, or Devotionals at BYU that are held every week at BYU Provo, BYU-I or BYU-Hawaii.
I know, I am only one voice, but it appears to have mattered. Immediately after voicing my displeasure with their change in programming than those programs were moved to other days of the week.and, you guessed it, talks from Women'sConference and Education Week and Devotionalls were then put back into the Sunday programming.
There were likely other voices who also complained, but the important thing here is that my voice was heard. My voice matters.
Your voice matters
Here on Wealthy Affiliate we are encouraged to like and comment on blogs and training that others contribute. Many times what you say will be exactly what someone else reading it needs to hear. If you fail to comment, it's like you are hiding your voice "under a bushel" .
Let us hear your voice and opinion. It matters to all of us. It matters to you. You will gain confidence in your own opinion as others respond. Of course, it goes without saying that we Be Kind to One Another. If someone says something objectionable, just ignore it. Don't even give it importance.and they will get the message without causing a big flare-up.
Our experience here at WA is a wonderful opportunity to grow our talent as writers. The more we engage with each other, the more we will learn and the easier it will be to write good content.
Thanks for reading this blog.
Take care and enjoy your weekend.
Linda
Recent Comments
31
Of course your voice is important. You help and encourage so many WA members and we are all grateful to you. Thanks to people like you, we have taken self-assurance and understood that our voice can count.
Blessing
Ingrid
Every voice matters. At 21 I brought then-Senator John McCain to the small town of Quartzsite AZ where I was serving as the youngest Town Councilmember in Arizona History in LaPaz County where I was the Youngest First Vice Chairman in the State Republican Party history. As a vice-chairman of registrations and tally at the state committee, I was able to ask questions of governors and other elected officials. So don't tell me one voice doesn't matter.
Great comments! Your voice was essential, and taught you a thing or two about how important your voice was then, I bet. It still is important!
Yes I know that to get heard you need to VOTE, and be VOCAL. Just like WA, you need to have a voice in your business and hear the voices of others.
It is like even if you are one candle lit in the dark you could spread light just the same. Great insight, thanks. - Florentino
Thanks, Michael. I mentioned these things to some women who came to visit a couple of weeks ago and they remarked how that gave them something to think about, so I decided to share here. Life provides us with so many experiences that we can share for examples within WA.
Blessings,
Linda
Hi Linda
You would not say that with Brexit here in the UK. It has been going on for years and still no end in sight. The daily news covering nothing else but Brexit, we all have had extensive enough. Both sides of the argument what it there way. Result gridlock.
Your voice may not appear to matter with Brexit, but here in WA it will be heard, loud and clear. That was the point I hoped to make clear; that we have a voice and we should share it. Sorry about the gridlock in the UK. We have similar problems here too.
Just a really poignant post Linda. Your voice matters and it showed with the responses you had. It's all to easy to 'let someone else deal with it'
Comments on here are like voices in a conversation. I love to read what other members think, what their take on something is, their experiences.
We are such a diverse community, joined by a common goal. We should use that particular resource as much as we can.
Great post Linda, a great way to start a Sunday.
Thanks Twack! You are a great inspiration to me. We all have need of someone who appreciates us and what we say, and WA sure fills that need!
Good post and salient points showing examples of just how raising your voice can make a difference. That does indeed include adding in comments here within Wealthy Affiliate.
I have always been one to give people the opportunity to say no. Maybe 9 times they will say no, but that 10th time, they may say yes!
You never know unless you try, and just as with voting, every abstainer is providing a vote for whoever they may oppose by not selecting who they do want.
If you have a dog in the fight (an interest) it seems to me that you need to voice your opinion/request/vote/comment/advice to let others know how you feel/think.
Have a great Sunday!
Dave : )
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It's really good that you pointed out to us that, yes, we can make a difference. I think each of us feels powerless at some time or other in our lives. If we can hang on to the moments where we made a difference, that can be reassuring. Yes, we do all matter.
Yes, if we can just look at the difference we can make and hold on, keeping hold of the fact that our voice matters. Thanks for your comment!