Dear Ellie:

As you learn more and more day by day the power of your voice I can’t help but laugh as you scream “Daaaaaaaaaady!” anytime your Daddy makes the slightest noise from another room. Hopefully by the time you read this you will have mastered the concept of an “indoor voice” and understand that its not quite appropriate to use your loudest voice all the time. But I have to say my baby I also hope that you never totally loose your voice. Today is election day; one of many election days that I’ve taken you to the polls with me in your short 18 months. I don’t remember ever going to vote with my parents but I do remember them instilling that it was important. I remember them watching the news about the election coverage all night long until the ballots were in (booooooring), and I can honestly say I didn’t appreciate it then but I always knew that when I turned 18 I was going to vote. My 18th birthday fell after I had left for my first year at Clark Atlanta University so I had to absentee vote and while I was proud to vote for the first time I was so uneasy because part of me knew my ballot wasn’t really counted. You see that was the 2004 election which is now infamous for being one of the poorest handled elections of my generation due to so many ballots being “lost” or flat out not counted. I didn’t let feeling disheartened stop me from voting though instead I made sure that the next time I voted it would be in person. As life has taken me through different experiences I’ve realized that my voice is not just limited to my city, state, or country but if I speak loud enough and often enough I could make a difference for people around the world. Your voice has that same power my love bug. You could move mountains with you voice if you use the right tone. But there will be times that you may become discouraged, frustrated, or feel like your voice doesn’t make a difference but trust me when I say it does. Your silence makes a difference too. Silence is not met simply with silence but rather the void left by it will be filled with the voices of those that oppose you and/or what you stand for. Don’t ever let any one speak for you and convince you to use your indoor voice when its time to shout with your loudest outdoor voice. My Aunt Janet once told me when I felt like giving up on something that I should never let the devil shut my mouth to what God has put on my heart to say. It was one of those things where I know she didn’t realize the magnitude of what she had said but it has stuck with me ever since and I often have to remind myself of it. You might find yourself thinking “its not even worth it” or “what difference does it make” but my baby your voice has so much power to it that its worth can not be measured and it could make a world of difference you just have to use it.

Love Always,

Mommy

P.S. To the young girl who feels the world around her has silenced her…speak up. No one has the right to take your voice from you. There are times when it may be all we have left. When you strip away all material things what is your story and how will you tell it? Use your voice for good, speak in a way that brings positivity, and when necessary use your outdoor voice