Holding of Wrist

Day of Silence

Every April, hundreds of thousands commemorate the National Day of Silence in honor of those who cannot speak for themselves. Today marked the 17th annual Day of Silence. WOW! How perfect that my first blog as a full staff member would be on a day such as this. I have been commemorating this day since I was in middle school (yeah, that was 10 years ago…) This year has been different than any other year. Instead of being a student, I am a teacher. 

Today, I felt like the theme of it all wasn’t just an extreme version of “the quiet game.” That would be a bit pointless. The theme throughout the day was “hope.” As a teacher, I want each student that filters through my classroom to feel that same hope I have. See, when I was in the middle school, I lacked any hope that things would get better. I felt like no one was fighting for me. No one cared about me. No one wanted me around. I was trapped and alone. 

I know I am not the first or last person to think those brutal thoughts. I used to ask myself, “HOW will this get better? HOW can I have hope? HOW can I smile day to day? HOW can I help myself? HOW do I survive middle school?” Well, instead of just sitting back and doing nothing and complaining that life handed me some tough situations, I wanted to do something. I want to give others hope. 

So, four years ago, I joined HOW as an intern and am proud to say I am now working for Holding of Wrist, or HOW. Instead of asking questions like “HOW can I help myself?” I am now asking myself, “HOW can I help others?” The answers to life are ALWAYS found within. WE are stronger than we know. That’s HOW we get better. That’s HOW we heal. That’s HOW we know life is better. Life is worth living when we live together. 

I can’t sit here and tell you that I feel 100% every day all the time. I can’t tell you that I haven’t thought about my anxiety and depression. I can’t tell you that my life is perfect AT all. I can tell you that life is worth living. I can tell you that you can HAVE hope. I can tell you that HOW is reaching out to those who don’t have a voice for themselves. I can tell you that your “HOW will this…?” questions can be solved by reaching out and loving all. Just know that it doesn’t HAVE to make sense. Just know it will always get better.

My day of silence was a reminder of what I do and what is in my path. This day of silence is starting off my now permanent role at HOW as your voice of the multimedia world. I love you all and I am so glad to be on this journey with you. 

Remember, love cures pain.
Hope is better than you know.
And you are important. 

Be blessed.

-Colleen