Finding My Voice

So last week I came down with a hideous sore throat. You know the kind where you can’t function first thing in the morning and your voice sounds like you just choked on  a piece of burnt toast? Yeah, that kind.

I so desperately wanted to speak normally but things were coming out like a mixture of Miss Piggy and a croaking frog. Whispering felt best. What a relief to my family, huh?

As I wished for my real Melanie voice it got me thinking about what I had already been thinking about. OK. That may have officially been the stupidest thing I’ve ever published on the internet.

I’ve been thinking….I publish regularly here on the blog and I’m trying to find my VOICE in this vast world wide web. I’m trying to find my unique way of talking to you. I’ve asked myself several questions.

What is it exactly that I want you to hear?

What exactly is it that I want to share?

How exactly can I minister/help you in this journey?

What can I say that would be most beneficial?

Here are some of the answers.

I want to be transparent. Genuine.

I don’t want to be Ann Voskamp.  Or Lysa Terkeurst. Or Pioneer Woman. (And they are wonderful women!) Or anyone else that has a wildly successful blog, business or Twitter following.

I don’t want to gain the world just to lose my soul.

I don’t want share so many recipes and forget to share what’s on my heart.

I want to be me.

I want to be:

Honest.

Vulnerable to share my mistakes.

True to myself.

Have you ever thought about your voice? We all have one regardless of our circumstances. We all have a voice that’s being heard in some way. What is that you hope you are expressing to your close companions, coworkers, children, customers?  Here are some things I’ve asked myself.

1.  What is that you hope those people are hearing?

2. What do you think they actually are hearing?

Are they a close match? If not, it may be time for some re-evaluating.  It’s a constant process. I may need to do this on a regular basis to hone in on my talents, skills and gifts.

I’m still trying to figure them out. And that’s OK. If we all figured out what we were good at and meant for at the age of 9…

Well, life might just be a little less adventurous and a little more tedious.

So what if start down a path and realize it’s the wrong one? At least we tried. At least we cared enough about someone to try. At least we didn’t sit around any longer thinking about it. We took action. And we can do it again in a different direction if needed.

I’ll tell you what I want my voice to be. One of …

….authenticity

….grace

…and a flood of love.

Love you all,

Melanie

xo

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But I want to here from you! I’m trying to find my unique voice.

What is it about Carmel Moments that keeps you coming back? What do you enjoy most?

Be honest. I need to hear it.