Today We Vote

 

Today, I voted not just for myself, but for the women who came before me, transforming their pain into power. I want them to know that their stories matter, and their struggles are not in vain.  

Today I voted for my great-grandmother to reclaim the voice she was denied. In 1929, in the dead of winter, my great-grandfather and his nine-year-old son Gib hitched up the horse and buggy and gave my great-grandfather’s brother, Frank, a ride to the train.  Frank planned to hop boxcars back to his home in Wallaby Island, Washington.  My great-grandfather made a spur of the moment decision to give his son Gib to Frank, so Frank would have someone to help him on his farm. He did not ask my great-grandmother as women had no say, no voice in such matters. When my great-grandmother learned of this, her fury was palpable. She never saw her son again and, over time, swallowed her anger, eventually losing her ability to speak altogether

Today I voted for my grandmother to honor the sacrifices she made and the struggles she faced. She delivered nine babies on the kitchen table. She had no electricity, running water, and no help. My Grandfather abandoned the family and left them to fend for themselves. 

Today I voted for my mother to ensure that her legacy is not one of silence, but of empowerment. She navigated a world that often dismissed her voice, yet she taught me how to endure and persevere.

 I say out loud the issues I hold close to my heart. I am claiming my voice and the power to heal the past, change the present and build the future. I use my voice to leave a thread for someone to catch when I am gone. I use my voice to change our children's lives and their futures. I use my voice as a bright Light to inspire others to stand forward in their Light. We are part of a movement that goes beyond moments of success or loss. We are awakening to our voice, because the world needs us, because our ancestors and children need us. Today we vote and make our voices heard.