I speak up because I want others to see that they can too.

I want them to see that I have spoken up and been criticised and had people disagree with me and had people unfollow me, and I’m still here. I’m still speaking up. I’m still running a business. I wasn’t destroyed. Yes, I was wounded by some of the comments, but not badly and not for long. Most of all, my voice hasn’t been compromised If anything it has been strengthened. And that’s the thing about speaking up; the more you use your voice, the more comfortable you get with using it. It’s like any other muscle.

And eventually, after being beaten down a few times you realise the liberating truth; I won’t be silenced. I will keep speaking up.