Dearest Quiet Ones,

This is my open letter to those of us who choose to remain silent for whatever reason. For me, I hate conflict and fighting, so I choose to remain silent in the majority of situations that would end up as such. If you are silent because of your sexuality, your race, your beliefs, or because of bullies - I understand. I started reflecting this week on what my silence does and why I sometimes feel remorse for not speaking up. Most people who know me wouldn't probably agree with me when I say that I'm generally quiet, but not speaking much isn't what I'm referring to.

The quiet I'm referring to is when you have a lot to say but you choose to say nothing. The quiet I'm referring to is the silence we choose when we should be standing up for ourselves.

My loves, we should never be silent when it comes to who we are. Too many times I have let someone walk all over me, say malicious and slanderous things about me, and kept my mouth shut to avoid conflict. What kind of life is this when we can't talk to one another? When we can't ask one another questions and have open minds? When we shut down and invoke hate?

To those of us who remain silent while others put us down - it is your right to defend yourself. You are a valuable and meaningful human being and deserve to be treated as such. You have every right to feel the emotions you have and express them freely without judgment. But you have to remember that there will always be someone who doesn't agree with you. There will always be someone who tries to silence you. It's up to you to break your silence and give yourself a voice.

Our world needs our voices right now. Being silent can only facilitate a one track world. Talk to one another, ask questions, and don't ever stop learning.