Your Voice Has Value
“Before enlightenment chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment chop wood, carry water.”
Enlightenment does not relieve you of the details of every day life but makes you realise those details matter. You are not too small to make a difference.
You are not too small to make a difference…”a difference” can be subjective. From changing a world view to simply making someone’s day. Your voice matters. You don’t have to have 1000s of social media followers. We can all be inspired by those doing the everyday, remarkably.
However much I believe this. I’ve found it difficult to find my voice. I overthink, over analyse and then the imposter syndrome sets in. I try to forget that I had something to say. So at the start of 2020, it became a ‘resolution’. That I’d live less in fear of speaking up; that I’d create more, have courage and hopefully, inspire others to do the same.
In March, I set up ‘Chop Wood Carry Water’ alongside my friend, Owen. The tangible manifestation of many conversations between us. We sat on this idea for too long. We did a lot of talking about it but realised it was time to do. It felt like lockdown was a catalyst. We didn’t want people to feel disconnected; we wanted to create a movement which would help people find their voices, help them be heard and inspire people to share. We want to turn the volume up to 11, pull the pin and enjoy the difference that being heard brings.
So it started with our ‘Pandemic Playlists’. We bought people together to share 10 songs that they had been listening to throughout the pandemic for various reasons. Some people were amped about sharing, others needed more poking. But we got people to share their voices via music. A universal language that speaks to people on an incredibly emotional level. It’s powerful what music can do for your soul and it felt so good to help share those feelings amongst others.
Then came the podcast. Owen and I felt like we’d been having ‘podcast-worthy’ conversations for a while, we just weren’t pressing record. Now, every Friday, we sit and chat about topics that fire us up, that make us laugh, that make us angry and those that only make sense to us over a cup of coffee in the garden. The bigger purpose being; if us two idiots can put ourselves out there, then anyone can. Don’t overthink. Press record. Because your voice matters.
We’ve not even scratched the surface with our plans for Chop Wood Carry Water yet. It’s exciting and terrifying but it’s giving me all the reasons to be cheerful.
Michaela James
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