There’s Room for Everyone

I’m writing this post as an entry in the “Overcoming Writer’s Doubt” contest at Positive Writer.

There’s this horrible voice inside most writers’ heads that says something along the lines of, “Who do you think you are?” and “Why the hell would anyone want to hear anything you’ve got to say?” That is the ugly, belittling, sadistic voice of doubt. When that voice kicks in, it’s much too easy to look around and think, everything there is to say has already been said – and much better than I could say it.

I was deep in the throes of one of these attacks when I saw the call for entries for this contest. I started clicking on the links of posts that had already been submitted. What I saw was a group of people who stood up and told that voice where it could go and what it could do when it got there. I saw people who were afraid but who went ahead and posted anyway. That to me is bravery.

I saw it and took heart. I saw it and realized we all bring something unique and special to the table: ourselves. We each have our own unique voice – something no one else in the universe has. We each have our own thoughts, perspectives, experiences, and feelings that make what we have to say uniquely ours.

The world wide web is a pretty big place. It’s like a massive table where everyone is sharing just about anything and everything. The best part? There’s room enough for everyone at the table. And we all deserve a place at it.