Diversity of Perspective

If all we hear are the same voices saying the same things that they've always said, nothing can and will change.

-Ciara Gogan


Photo by Clem Onojeghuo on Unsplash (license free).

I get it ... Women and minorities are feeling marginalized. Our rights are being trampled on; people are at each other's throats about politics, freedom, protest, and so on. Not only are we not moving forward right now, but we are also being taken backward. If the current administration has its way, women, LGBT, and minority rights will all be rescinded, and we'll be back to the 1920s (yes, recession and all). It's easy in this climate to feel like you can't make a difference that you have no voice ... I'm here to tell you that that's BS! Each of us has so much to add to the conversation and we cannot and will not be silenced! Now, more than ever, we need diversity of perspective! If all we hear are the same voices saying the same things that they've always said, nothing can and will change.

Here's my challenge to you ... pay attention to what's pissing you off, then find your voice and exercise it.

I know it feels like one person can't make a difference, but that's not true. One-person change wave stories litter history. And remember this, if you're feeling strongly about something, there are hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of others feeling the same way. What if you all started speaking in one voice ... what if you all called your politicians, volunteered for a cause that matters to you or donated to a charity that speaks to you? You know what would happen ... positive change. And we need so much of that right now.

I want to know that you're with me women, POC, LGBTQIA, and the others who support us. Don't let the feelings of being attacked, of challenge and defeat, get the better of you, and promise that you'll do something to change what's happening.

Here is a (by no means definitive) list of things you could do:

Write a blog about what moves you

Volunteer

Call your state and federal reps, and tell them how they should represent YOU

Start a MeetUp group

Be kind to someone who needs it

Donate what you can to a group doing work that is important to you

Get off social media, and have conversations in real life

So please speak out, we need YOUR voice now more than ever.

Originally published on Thrive Global.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.