Being A Quiet Strong Voice
A Quiet Strong Voice came to me in 2004 after I made the third attempt on my life. What I see even more so now, than ever before is that I AM the quiet strong voice.
“After the attempts on my life, I surrendered and accepted the severity of my illness, and that is when I hear A Quiet Strong Voice. When negative thoughts echoed in my head, filling me with doubt and fear, the voice would come to me with a peaceful, calm strength that helped me overcome many dark episodes.” an excerpt from A Quiet Strong Voice.
On Friday I spoke at the Moving Forward with Suicide Prevention in Alberta Conference: Strengthening Protective Factors and Instilling Hop. What I loved most about the day, that the 200 people in attendance received and was witness to, was a coming together – no matter what race, what gender, what sexual orientation and who they were. Lifted by the beauty of native traditions of prayer and song, it truly was a gift to be part of. After I spoke in the afternoon, I was gifted with many heart warming hugs, what touched my heart deeply was two hand written letters given to me by two youth, as well as a sweet young 12 year old girl who came up to me and said “You taught me to never give up and there is always hope.” To have Casey Eaglespeaker dedicate a prayer to me at the end was beyond touching, something I will cherish for a long time to come.
I believe it’s important for everyone to feel seen, heard and loved. I was given permission from one of the girls to share the poem she wrote me, as I believe it is a message for all of us to receive and live by.
I see you. I hear you. I love you.
You are an angel in your ways
You feel the pain of the earth
and you carry oh so many.
Remember your beauty
Remember your love
Remember your soul
your soul which is my soul
which is everyone’s soul.
We all come from some common creation
We can access the power and pain of all others
or deny the existence of life.
Your pain and power has enveloped my soul
I sense you across the room.
I share with you my arms.
I share with you my love.
Being FIERCE
On Saturday morning our family drove to Edmonton, I wanted to combine an event with family time. As I went off to the FIERCE Nominees Choice Event, my family had fun swimming around at the Waterpark at West Edmonton Mall, I met up with them later and we had so much fun just hanging out, and staying in our Igloo room.
On her website You Are Fierce, Tamara Plan the founder and brilliant woman behind the FIERCE Awards she shares this:
Being FIERCE is about celebrating other women, inspiring and BEING inspired; it’s about being strong, trusting, positive, humble and confident.
Sitting with 60 other FIERCE women I was grateful for the friends in my life, some of whom were present with me. Since I had won the Nominees Choice Award the year prior, I in no way expected that I would be gifted this honor a second year in a row. I had just finished showing my friend Shelley Streit the above hand written note I received, and then my name was the third to be called out.
I took the letter with me and read it to everyone present. Being FIERCE, living life authentically, being true to you – whatever you choose to call it – it is captured beautiful in this profound wisdom shared by Tamara – it all comes down to choice.
I am grateful for choosing to be a quiet strong voice, for choosing to walk away from much, yet walk towards even more.
What makes you FIERCE?
I am taking 100 Days to Reconnect with Lee for my mental and physical wellness.
If you are in crisis please visit www.Befrienders.org for 24 hour Crisis Line listings across the world
or click HERE for Mental Health Resources.
Click here for free tools and resources.
