Strength Worth Listening To

There’s not a lot I love more than going on long walks with a podcast ringing my ears, echoing the voice of a powerful, culture-challenging woman on the mic.⁣ 🎤💪🏻 ⁣ Today’s choice of podcast (one of my very favs) was Oprah’s “SuperSoul Conversations.” As you may know, Oprah does a lot of things, but one thing she does well is introduce or dive me (and her thousands of other listeners) just a little bit deeper into the stories of cultures & stories unlike our own. ⁣ ⁣ Today’s lineup was a beautiful insight into the life & writing of the nation’s Poet Laureate, Native American Joy Harjo, followed by a courageous interview given by Chanel Miller, the student sexually assaulted by Brock Turner at Stanford University in 2015. ⁣ ⁣ Both women overcame strikingly difficult, although very different, obstacles & various prejudices in their journey to becoming who they are today. ⁣ ⁣ I was left both encouraged & challenged by their testimonies— in awe of both women & their bravery to give voice to stories that aren’t often heard. ⁣ ⁣ These powerful women have overcome obstacles I would never wish on anyone - obstacles many find too hard to face - obstacles I’m not sure I could bear. ⁣ ⁣ But today in their voices, I found strength in their endurance, fire in their battles and grace amongst their resilience. ⁣ ⁣ Their stories do not look like mine. In many ways, I’d be honest to say I’m thankful for that. But, our differences do not affirm my silence or complacency. ⁣ ⁣ We live in a big, beautifully interconnected world - in an age like no other. Although a mere Instagram post or tweet will never attest to the activism their voices broadcast, it will do so much as be sure their names are carried forward - hoping maybe you’d search out their stories as well.⁣ ⁣ I encourage you to give their episodes a listen. I assure you you’ll leave seeing the world just a little bit differently - anxious to get off social media if only to spread love to those around you today. ⁣ ⁣ Social media can be a dangerously harrowing place, but today if only for a moment, may you find hope & light in their stories of strength & determination. ⁣ ⁣ Happy Monday, friends. ⁣ Let us be better. 💗⁣