One Voice

One voice

What is the strength within one voice?

Author Maria Noone.

I recall years ago when I was a 14 year old teenager at college, during those awkward years when being rediculously conscious about everything you do is normal for fear of committing social suicide in front of others, especially your teenage peers. I was sitting in a geography class having just watched out the window another teacher who was obviously angry with hands on hips, face tighted, leaning over a student telling them off and wondering what the student had done. And that's when I noticed for the 3rd or 4th the name of one of my own fellow classmates name being called at again by our teacher to, "Stop that talking!" So I thought I better pay attention. 

A couple of desks away, someone else giggled, and with that the teacher turned around assuming it was the same girl, and ripped into her - shredding off layer upon layer of any dignity she had until he hit the raw bone. The girl tried to tell him it wasn't her and he didn't believe her and I could see her eyes getting glassy and none of her group of friends said a word. In fact the whole class was stone cold silent apart from the teachers rage and the girls obvious frustration and embarrassment. And, I remember thinking very strongly to the core of my stomach how unfair it was that she was getting blamed. And so I raised my hand and spoke up.

So, what is one voice when a person who:

  • Is shy and new to a strange environment and in need of acknowledgement is asked, ”Hello, how are you today?”
  • Just gets on with things in their own way unnoticed is told, "I think you’re doing a great job?”
  • Is a victim stands up and says, ”Enough, I will tolerate this no longer?”
  • Is feeling low and is need of friendship is asked, “Would you like to join me for lunch?” 
  • Feels they are not succeeding so well in life is told, ”You’re a great friend?”
  • Is wounded from repeated bullying by others stands up and says, "I am worth more then this?”
  • Is feeling isolated, alone and out of sorts is asked, “Are you okay?”
  • Feels they have little impact on others lives is told, "You’ve made a difference in my life?”
  • Has had enough of continuous frustrations says, ”I am going to make a change?”
  • Feels exhausted and has no way out is asked, “Can I help?”
  • Is self conscious is told, ”You look nice today?”
  • Has ideas that are continuously confronted with a no, says, ”I will have faith in my idea and forge ahead?”
  • Feels stuck and does not know which way to turn is asked, ”I am here to listen if you like?”
  • Is a young child and lost a race is told by a parent, ”I love you?”
  • Is told they have no talent, decides, ”I’m going to keep trying?”
  • Has been a victim of racism or bigoted responses is approached by another who says, ”I will walk at your side?"
  • Is an athlete trialed by severe injuries is told they will never compete again decides, ”I will compete again?”
What is the power and influence that one voice can have in changing the moment, or present day but even our futures in a better way? What impact does one voice have on the people around it? What solace can one voice provide to friends in need? What impact does one voice have in changing our understanding as we know it? What change can one voice make when it decides to vote? What difference can one voice make in the lives of the people we know and in the support of others?
 
Think of:
  • Albert Einstein who wrote the theory of relativity despite heckles from the science fraternity.
  • Elvis Presley who was a famous singer, musician and actor who went on to create a multi million dollar career from singing, even after he was told he could not sing.
  • Kate Shepherd the New Zealand Women’s Suffragette leading the way for woman in New Zealand to vote, and in leading the way for the vote of woman at an international scale.
  • King George VIII who abdicated his throne to marry divorced Wallace Simpson after being told he could not, and if he did would lose all royal rights to the throne and his future.
  • Lance Armstrong, world known cyclist, Tour de France winner and cancer survivor.
  • Mahatma Ghandi political and spiritual leader in India, and leader of the Indian Independence movement.
  • Mark Ingles New Zealander and first ever double amputee to reach the summit of Mouth Everest.
  • Martin Luther King, American Civil Rights Activist and major contributor to the end of segregation in the United States of America. 
  • Nelson Mandela, anti apartheid activist imprisoned for 27 years and whom later became President of South Africa and inspirational leader to millions across the world.
  • Rosa Parks, African Amercian Rights Activists who in 1955 decided she would not give up her bus seat for a white passenger.
  • Sir Edmund Hilary, NZ Mountaineer first known to climb Mt.Everest with Tenzing Norgate, first men to conquer Everest after many unsuccessful attempts.
Even better yet, look closer to home and see what one voice is in your surroundings. Look to your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, partners, friends and work colleagues. But, mostly look to yourself. You see, there wasn't much to raising my hand in the classroom on that day, I explained to the teacher that I saw this girl writing her notes and that she hadn't said a word. And of course he was a little afronted, and surprised by my response. But life went on.   
 
Thinking back on it now, I think to some degree the teacher doubted what I said, but as I realised back then - that's not what mattered. What mattered most was how I felt having spoken up, and every part of my gut instinct knowing I had done the right thing. A few years later when we were older, and the girl headed off to Canada with her parents to live she wrote me a note in my year book to thank me again for standing up for her and that she had never forgotten how good it felt to have someone do that when she really needed it.
 
We may know many of the voices in this story, directly and indirectly. We have been those voices also. And sometimes we’ve decided not to speak. There is an impact one voice can have. If you choose to speak up more often, imagine what a better place we might be in, and richness of feeling that you get to keep. We all have voices that we can use, and I implore you to use them.
 
Life occurs so rapidly at times that we forget how we matter and what we can do. Many great changes occur with a voice that gives of an idea, with a voice that supports another, with a voice that influences, with a voice that develops, with a voice that is a source to lean towards and adds value and enriches the lives of others; which ultimately enriches our own.
 
 
 
© The Koru Effect. 2010.