Straws

Rather than cowardice, finding emotional courage to speak up requires not only the words to express ourselves, but the belief that what we want to say matters. That our expression won’t blow the show to pieces. Understanding the validity of our experiences matters. Rather than, and even when, feeling ashamed, indifferent, scared or wrong. Expressing vulnerability or dismay at others is difficult without heaping blame. Smaller unspoken words become straws to the explosive bomb of finality. I once heard ‘women can’t hear what men don’t say’, but I don’t sense it’s gendered. Keeping quiet is a safety mechanism, as saying ‘I don’t care enough’ or ‘I’ve had enough’ is hard to say, as we know it’s inexpressibly confronting to hear.