FINDING YOUR VOICE

A person who has inspired me, helped me and supported me through spoken word is Michelle. Michelle was one of my nurses during my hospital inpatient stay. She would call me and the other girls in the ward ‘her chickens’, and whenever we were upset she would sit and listen. Michelle has inspired me so so much! She would tell our parents “my job is to be a nurse. I will care for and listen to your children, but I am not their friend. I am caring, but also blunt. I will tell the patients if what they’re doing isn’t helping them recover”. Michelle is a wonderful person! She would always tell us stories about her young children, and tell us that as much as she enjoys working with us, she never wants to see us again because she wants us to be healthy and stay out of hospital.
Michelle has been one of the most impactful people in my life. She has motivated me to take charge of my recovery, and has made me so appreciative of all the things that nurses do!

Though there are many people who inspire me in my life, my younger sister is definitely one who voices out her opinions and thoughts confidently and tries to get me to do the same.
I tend to be more on the quiet side and just go with the flow, agreeing with things eventhough I might feel that it is not always the best idea available just because I am not that confident in sharing my opinion.
My sister will repeatedly tell me things along the line of “if you don’t tell others what you think, then of course they won’t know and everything will stay the same”.
It pushes me to be more outspoken and try to get others to listen to my voice instead of it always just being me listening to the voice of others, be they good or bad.

Mon grand père qui a partagé de l’eau et un verre avec un Allemand qui lui demander à boire même pas 50 ans après la dernière guerre mondiale !
Avec sourire il a parlé de cet échange avec un homme qui déboule en moto et side-car comme a l’époque de la guerre et avec qui il a échangé non seulement l’essentiel offrir de l’eau mais la capacité de dire devant des photos de mon arrière grand-père décédé sur un champ de guerres a 1 000klm dans les tranchées de l’est se rendre compte que leurs deux père était mortellement blessé sur le même champ de bataille a 8 journée d’écart et se dire que leurs père était les victimes de ceux qui les avait enrôlé ! Alors je retiens du regard étonné de fils d’avoir croisé un autre fils qui a perdu autant sans rancune sans désir de vengeance aucun des deux aurait pensé partage ce passé et être d’un même avis ! Protèger sa liberté refusé toute vengeance et se dire que il faut protéger notre libre arbitres notre libre conscience notre humanité !
On commémore des blessures au lieu des joies ! On a tous des blessures dans cette vie ou une autre ! Les plus belles victoires c’est de célèbrer la vie la paix le bonheur ! Apprendre à vivre comme un enfant dans l’inconscience hors des conflits la plus belle victoire c’est savoir que deux hommes on partage un souvenir difficile sans rancune ni rancoeur et pourtant il n’avait plus leurs père pas pue créé des souvenirs avec leurs enfants et petits enfants a qui transmettre la découverte des plantes le respect de la nature ! Ce que mon grand père m’a appris c’est tellement de sagesse et aussi de créativité et savoir sourire voir rire malgré un souvenir si difficile mais tellement heureux de savoir partager l’amour de la paix ! L’amour des plantes , du jardinage écouté les oiseaux regarder le ciel et reconnaître les étoiles ! Un peu le petit prince mon Papi car il me rappelle une chose apprendre a dessiner l’amour ! Voilà tout simplement

My Mother has always been so supportive of me. When I received a late diagnosis of Autism at the age of 18, she told me that my diagnosis does not define me as a person and what defines me as a person is the kind of person I am through my actions and words. She told me that, if I put my mind to it, I could achieve anything I wanted to and that my Autism would not be a barrier. That is something I have carried with me and will continue to carry with me through my life. Since then I have achieved many wonderful things, and I feel my Motner is to thank for all of her love, support and guidance. Without her, I would certainly be lost.

Women’s in powerment is fantastic to see 💕💐

My wife has inspired me through her words. She is Autistic and sees the world differently to others, but is able to offer an insight into things that others can’t. She always speaks up for those who find they have no voice and isn’t afraid to stand up on her own and call out injustice where she sees it, even if nobody else does. She encourages me and others to always speak the truth, even if that truth includes us admitting to things we’d rather not. She will stand out on her own and use her words to defend animals who are mistreated my humans and she will use her voice to confront even the scariest of people if she feels they are exploiting others

My heroine definitely is my mother!!! She’s my biggest inspiration Despite going through every form of grief possible, personal trauma and suffering with a particularly nasty form of ataxia which is often compared to having MS and Parkinson’s combined, has her needing a wheelchair, shaking so much she can barely hold a cup of tea and falling over, she has been the best mum anyone could ask for.

She always puts us first, will never buy herself anything unless she buys for everyone else, has supported me through my own health problems, mental breakdowns, being bullied, grief and trauma and my brother through his addiction.

What does she say on going through hell and back all her life to even now? “You just have to get on with it!” 😂 Spoken like the true powerhouse she is!

It would mean the world and more to me to be able to give something back as her angel baby’s should’ve-been-26th birthday/the anniversary of his passing is coming up in a couple of months and it would be nice to give her something to help her keep being the courageous, beautiful human that we all admire and look up to on such a heartbreakingly difficult day for her.

I love what momojis stands for! It’s so incredible and never ceases to surprise me with something else. They are so much more than just a company they are a community! Thank you!

lovely

My inspiration was my father. He was stuck on a wheelchair because of MS. He was this 1.9m tall basketball player, sort of a magnum PI type, that looked so out of place on a wheelchair. he was not with me for long but in the years that i had him next to me he gave me some of the most important lessons of my life.
the one that i will always treasure happened when i was probably around 8-9 years old. We were in one of those big shops that sells everything and there was an entire isle full of toys. I had my eyes on this magic plastic island with this small figurines. I was attracted by the lights and the glitter, and i liked the brand. I asked and asked, threw a tantrum and finally convinced him that I could not live without that toy so he bought it for me. we went back home, I opened the toy and started playing with it. after possibly 15 minutes i was already bored of it. so he came in to my room, looked at me and said: “see? no object can make you happy”. I understood in that very moment that he bought me the toy for that precise purpose, to teach me that whatever material thing we think that it is essential for our life, it will never grant us happiness. I am 36 now, and will never forget that lesson.

My mum has always been a huge inspiration to me, although we haven’t always had an easy life she’s always worked hard and been there for me, I can’t imagine what my life would’ve been like without her.

- There are only 2 people you should make proud of yourself, and they aren’t our parents. Everyone of us should live trying to make proud ourselves at the age of 8 and ourselves at the age of 80.- this is something I just read on a book and yes we should care about what we desire and follow our passion, mine is drawing and even though I don’t know how to use this passion l have, other than as a hobby I wish one day someone will notice me and I’ll get more people to see my art, so that the 8 years old me will be proud of my progress ♡

- There are only 2 people you should make proud of yourself, and they aren’t our parents. Everyone of us should live trying to make proud ourselves at the age of 8 and ourselves at the age of 80.- this is something I just read on a book and yes we should care about what we desire and follow our passion, mine is drawing and even though I don’t know how to use this passion l have, other than as a hobby I wish one day someone will notice me and I’ll get more people to see my art, so that the 8 years old me will be proud of my progress ♡

“Je n’ai jamais réussi à définir le féminisme. Tout ce que je sais, c’est que les gens me traitent de féministe chaque fois que mon comportement ne permet plus de me confondre avec un paillasson »
Rebecca West
The first message I heard who revealed my feminism

You listed so many women I admire. But Brené is my all time fave. So many amazing quotes to chose from. This is one of my faves: “VULNERABILITY IS NOT WINNING OR LOSING. IT’S HAVING THE COURAGE TO SHOW UP WHEN YOU CAN’T CONTROL THE OUTCOME.”

I copied down this affirmations years ago. I did not note who the author is but I feel these words
are a way to strive to lead and live a full life for all.

“Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night,
there will be nothing for him to steal.”

All women are strong

My friend believing in me and telling me I am beautiful as I went through self harm as I just couldn’t see I was worth anything.
It can take just a few kind words to make you smile :)

I have spent my life helping others through the obstacles and waiting game of waiting on a Kidney Transplant.

My Dad died suddenly in his sleep, aged 36 leaving 6 Children, myself being the eldest aged 11. He died of inherent Polycystic Kidney Disease, rare and nasty disease.

He will always be the biggest loss I will ever face. My hero. 🙏 His 3 siblings died in their 40’s too. More losses I still grieve for.

Then I discovered I inherited Dads condition & my Brother too.

It’s been a 5 times dying Transplant Journey, including life on a Dialysis machine for 2 years of 8 years in renal failure. 7 operations. Trauma still testing my mind and dreams.

Then I fell downstairs in 2017 and was in hospital 2 months and still recovering now from my injuries. But a walking miracle. 🙏

Brother died 7.8.19 through Stigma and Neglect by those who should have cared and so he switched his Dialysis machine off. But he didn’t want to die. We fought and fought a flawed system prior to his death.

He was BRAVE … 3 years attached to a Dialysis machine as I was for 2 years. Suffering with complex mental health conditions. I loved him and told him every day how proud I was.

I have always supported others In my jobs and volunteering .. by just being Me.

I don’t feel that courageous at the moment and questioning why when one is so kind, one gets hurt so much too.

I miss my Brother, he was Courageous through disbelief and he had me only and I had him.

We shared an inherent condition, we shared laughter through torment.

So I’m lonely. Very lonely.

But everyone fighting a Chronic Illness or Mental Health demons deserves respect and understanding.

Iv gone from the Speaker, Voice Advocate for Organ Donation, Renal and Dialysis to me in need of help and reassurance and it’s not there.

I just felt like talking about what Courageous means. Not doing this to win. But Iv read some of the stories and it’s good to share.

I am Proud of being Courageous, so should so many that don’t dare say.

Take care everyone. Lorraine

My Gran always said -

Life is too short & precious so don’t wait for the storm to pass just learn to dance your heart out in the rain.

I’m not sure where she got the saying but all 14 grandkids always got told it when we moaned about anything not going our way in life.

My grandmother, may she rest in peace, said that I had to study and find a job that would make me happy to be totally independent. For her, in her time, all women depended on their parents and later on their husbands; therefore, being independent was of great value to her and she passed it on to me.

My Dear Late Mum 💗 always us to say to us girls when we were growing up:
“Women are like Teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water!” A quote by Eleanor Roosevelt …i will carry it with me forever 💗🌸💗 x

Strong back
Soft heart
Wild Heart
By
Brene Brown

love to win it will make my day

I think about Han Lay, Miss Grand Myanmar, spoke out against alleged atrocities committed by her country’s military, her speech turned heads.
“Today in my country Myanmar … there are so many people dying,” she said at the Miss Grand International 2020 event in Thailand. “Please help Myanmar. We need your urgent international help right now.”

I always found this quote from Lao Tzu comforting when I’m having a hard time:
“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.”
It helps remind me that things will pass or have passed.

My mum always told me a smile can make all the difference in any situation and its never failed me yet X

Every time I think one person can’t make a difference I remember this quote.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

I think that no matter what colour our skin we have black or white disbelief we have

Greta Thunberg. Her unwavering persistence and her fearlessness when holding our governments accountable in her speeches have inspired many, including me. I especially was moved by her 2019 speech at the UN, as her emotions effectively carried the gravitas of the young generation’s feelings toward climate justice.

I’d really love to win one of these gorgeous dolly’s there so beautiful xx

“Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign, but stories can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people, but stories can also repair that broken dignity… when we realize that there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of paradise.” – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My sister, when I have bad times says me the corrects words. «This will pass too».

My Father always told me ‘Do as you would be done by!’ before he passed over way too young…me and my little brother tried to live by his words even when we felt the most alone. It made us strong, treat others as you yourself want to be treated, and always gift the world with a smile! x

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver my favorite poet of all time.

I love the woman from Argentinië who stand up for there sons for many years now.
Which disappeared and never came back.
They are very strong amd powerfull.
♡♡♡

The words of Tim Rice have inspired me. I find his lyrics interesting, clever, deep and fun, according to the situation he is describing. I love poetry and try writing verse but Tim Rice has allowed me to think differently and create better poems.

I thought my body failed me because of Crohn’s disease, instead I’ve realized that I wasn’t listening to him and therefore to my inner voice. The less I listened the more the disease roared.
I’m now fighting a battle to LISTEN to myself and to what my body needs, I’m learning to use my voice to speak about invisible disabilities fighters out there.
We are fighters.

Would love to win

My mother. She taught me to smile and give smiles to the people I met in my life.

I love Mother Theresa ! “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” -Mother Teresa

I was having a particularly hard time dealing (or not dealing) with certain emotions and a good friend gave me wise advice. Emotions themselves are not good or bad, it’s what you do with them or how you handle them that counts. It was kind of a revolution to me in that I could stop ignoring or pushing away certain feelings because they weren’t, in themselves, bad. It helped me deal with things I had been avoiding.

In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart’ – Anne Frank

My mother. She always used to live life to the fullest and was the foundation of our family. She used to bring everyone together and always put others before herself. One of my favourite things she used to say was “Life’s too short to stuff a mushroom”. So now I take every oppurtunity I can get and don’t sweat the small stuff. She made me who I am today and I will cherish her always.

My godmother has been my inspiration for many years now since I don’t have my mom in my life. All of her words are important to me,she always speaks with wisdom & guidance. She has the right words at the right moments to uplift me and help me get through the rough times in my life as well as the good times & helping me to always remember what’s important to me.

“We are the sum total of our memories. Memories are the most precious things we have. Good or bad. That’s what makes us who we are. What would we be without them?” – Alexandra Potter, Don’t you forget about me.

This quote is a famous line in the romance novel Don’t you forget about me. The novel is about the female character desiring a second chance to undo the wrongdoings so that we are walking the right path. Likewise, many of us do hope that we had a second chance to make the correct choices in our life.

I was devasted before reading this book. As a student, I failed my major examinations and was lookdown by many of my peers for being a repeat student. At that moment, I wish I had a second chance to undo the situations. After reading this book, it inspired me to face the reality positively. Most importantly, it’s alright to make mistakes as long as you improve at your pace confidently. Perhaps, even having a second chance, life will not go the way you intended it to be. You are who you are. :)

Apologies for the multiple submission. I accidentally pressed submit previously.

One of my biggest influences was the late great Carrie Fisher. She was outspoken, unapologetic and so authentically her.
She showed me that it was possible to be the real you dispite being someone who wasn’t necessarily the epitome of Hollywood beauty.
Who she was can be summed up by her chosen obituary: ‘She drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra.’

“We are the sum total of our memories. Memories are the most precious things we have. Good or bad. That’s what makes us who we are. What would we be without them?” – Alexandra Potter, Don’t you forget about me.

This quote is a famous line in the romance novel Don’t you forget about me. The novel revolves about everyone hoping to have a second chance to undo the wrongdoings so that we are walking In life, many of us does hope that we had a second chance to r

Tell us who has inspired you with their spoken words. Is there a speech that has been particularly memorable or perhaps someone in your life gave you words of wisdom that have guided you and stayed with you. Leave us a comment below and we’ll choose four winners next week.

“We are the sum total of our memories. Memories are the most precious things we have. Good or bad. That’s what makes us who we are. What would we be without them?” – Alexandra Potter, Don’t you forget about me.

This quote is a famous line in the romance novel Don’t you forget about me. The novel revolves about everyone hoping to have a second chance to undo the wrongdoings so that we are walking In life, many of us does hope that we had a second chance to r

Tell us who has inspired you with their spoken words. Is there a speech that has been particularly memorable or perhaps someone in your life gave you words of wisdom that have guided you and stayed with you. Leave us a comment below and we’ll choose four winners next week.

‘A candle’s in the window and the kettle’s always on’ – Cone From Away. Especially poignant for 2020, even when the world is falling apart, you can be kind.