“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”
– Brene Brown

I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote lately—about courage and vulnerability, about when to speak out or play it safe. I wonder if my posts or comments are worth my time or yours. In most cases, I’m preaching to the choir, but still, I find silence to be an unsatisfactory response. So at the risk of being attacked or mocked by bots or ‘whatever,’ I’m sharing what’s on my mind, hoping to find support among friends—to know I’m not alone, and that you too long for better outcomes and an optimistic path forward.

We are at our best when we choose kindness and compassion, when understanding triumphs over judgment. We show strength in the way we lift each other up, ensuring we all have an opportunity to reach our full potential and thrive. We are most blessed when we give rather than take, when we extend our hands in gratitude and generosity rather than in selfishness and greed. We are most courageous when we stand for fairness and justice, for inclusion and dignity, and for the meek and impoverished among us.

But I know it isn’t always easy. Speaking up for what’s right often feels exhausting, even futile. I’ve had moments where I hesitated, wondering if my voice would even make a difference. And yet, every time I choose to engage—whether by offering support, challenging misinformation, or simply reminding someone they are not alone—I realize that even small actions matter.

Maybe you’ve felt this too—hesitated to speak out or wondered if your voice matters? Maybe you’ve held back from saying something out of fear of backlash, or because you weren’t sure if it would change anything. But silence, though comfortable, changes nothing. It’s in speaking, in showing up, in choosing courage over complacency, that we create ripples of change.

So, I invite you to take a step today—no matter how small. Extend kindness in a conversation. Challenge an unjust idea. Offer support to someone who feels unseen. Share your thoughts, even when you’re unsure of how they’ll be received. Our voices, together, shape the world we long for.

Let’s not let fear or fatigue silence us. Let’s stand, speak, and act—because the world is watching, and what we do next matters.

Nancy