APPRECIATE YOUR FREEDOM AND SHARE YOUR VOICE!
Happy Friday!
I just got back this week from a trip to Taipei to visit my grandmother. My parents immigrated from there in the 70’s and I haven’t been there since I was 12. This time I took my 6 year old son. It was amazing special trip. Traveling always make me think and grow. There were dozens of emotions and lessons going through my head and I wanted to share some of my insights with you.
Do you ever feel trapped by fear?
Do you have something to say, but not sure how to say it? Do you struggle with sharing your voice? Have you held back your voice so long you don’t even know if you have one anymore? What is holding you back?
Today I wanted to share the story of my grandmother and hope her story will give you some inspiration to break through your barriers, appreciate your freedom and share your voice.
Lessons From Grandma
My grandmother is 92. While she has been through her share hardship and heartache she is thankful for her life. Who knew that an orphaned girl from China would one day have family of 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She is doing very well living in a vibrant senior community.
Several years ago she was sick and we moved her to the states, but after she got better she decided she wanted to go back to Taiwan even though all her family is here. At first we didn’t understand, but now I do. Who wants to live trapped in a downstairs room of my uncle’s house by herself when she can be free to do what she wants and be with her peers?
In life isn’t that what we all want? To have the freedom to be who we are and express ourselves. We are fortunate we live in a country and a time where you can be free to share your voice. That isn’t always the case.
This week I was sitting with my grandmother as she shared stories of her life, her regrets and gratitudes. At the end of her life, she has let go of the pain, the grudges, and just wants simplicity and peace and for her family to have a good life.
When I asked her about what she used to do and why, she answered, “What do you mean why? I had no choice.” She was an accountant, she says, “That’s what I happened to study so that’s what she did. I was fortunate to even go to school and get a job and I did what I did because I had to. I got married really young and life was just about getting by.”
When I asked her what she liked to do? What she wanted to do? She had no answer-she didn’t know. She said she is fine with anything.
Back in the day, it wasn’t about what you wanted, it was about survival. But even now when she has choices, she doesn’t know.
I get it, but it makes me sad. It makes me sad to know she never felt like she had any other choices and felt trapped. Even today that is the case for a lot of people.
But for the most part we do have choices.
As a daughter of Chinese immigrants I was always taught to do good and be grateful. These are great qualities, but I was also taught to be good and not rock the boat. What is being good? Is it being quiet? Obedient?
Well you know what? I never really fit a mold. Maybe that’s why I went into television to have a voice.
Maybe that’s why I love helping others share their voice with the world.
Maybe that’s why I’m so frustrated seeing people trapped no longer by society or external forces like in my grandma’s day, but their own barriers to achieving what they want in their life.
I‘ve seen too many people lost, not knowing what they want and feeling trapped and helpless.
I’m not saying it’s easy. I struggle with it all the time.
Sometimes we do need to just need to get by, but when that isn’t the case, what is holding you back?
Whenever I’m faced with a fear or a challenge my own internal barriers go up. Maybe it’s because of how I was raised, maybe it was society’s stereotypes, maybe it’s just me.
We all have our own excuses and it’s are own internal barriers that hold us back the most.
They may make us feel safe, but in the end they also keep us trapped. It’s about knowing that we have these barriers that we can start to break them down.
In today’s society we have so many resources at our fingertips to create what we want, share what we want.
It makes me sad to think back on to how trapped my grandma felt or how trapped my parents felt when they first moved to America, when they didn’t have a voice to share, but now it’s different, but they are still trapped in their own patterns. It’s all they know.
How do you want to look back on your life when you are 93? What will you be grateful for? What will you regret? Will you have shared your voice?
Hopefully you won’t have any regrets, and you can spend the time now to take the action you need.
Is there something you’ve been wanting to do, something you want to share, but feel trapped? Or how have you overcome the fear of sharing your voice? I’d love to hear from you.
Here's to you and your voice,
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