by Miss Ann

A few years back I saw a quirky – but very thought provoking movie staring Holly Hunter and Queen Latifah. It was called “Living Out Loud”. Now this movie wasn’t a blockbuster, yet it carried a great message. This movie was about a woman (Hunter) who lived her life for everyone but herself. She was hiding and holding her life back for others, so much so, that she did not have her own voice. She lived in fear of what her life could be. It silenced her. This movie made me think, am I silent in my life? If you knew me you would say “no way”. But there are so many of us that are silent in our lives.

I’m here to tell you that Life is special. A very special gift from God. And this is your life and I want you to take your gift and live it! Decide today that you are going to live out loud.

Living out loud means having the courage to be exactly who you are without apology. It means admitting your mistakes without beating yourself up. So release all the shame, all the guilt, all the worry and all the fear. It means not taking who you are and what you have for granted. You cannot live out loud if you are hiding behind what was. Living out loud means focusing on what is, right now; and that is you!

To live out loud means showing up as your authentic Self, without the masks. It means acknowledging your shortcoming and celebrating your strengths. In order to live out loud you must have faith in yourself and in the process God has for your life. Most importantly, in order to live out loud you must love yourself as God loves you.

You may have been living your life in a whisper, if so, take one step toward pumping up the volume of your life. Be proud of who you are and what you are. Be yourself, love yourself. Stand up, speak up, lift up, and reach up. It’s time for all of us to start living out loud.

...“do not go gentle into that good night” author, Dylan Thomas.

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