Everyone deserves a voice

In Wonder, August Pullman, the main character in the book, says “I think there should be a rule that everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their lives.”

I feel that way about interviews – you know the ones with TV celebrities, movie stars, sports players, politicians – the famous lot basically. People want to know about their favorite things, their pet peeves, their best and worst memories, their perspectives on life; if you ignore the glitter and glamour crap, these can be blueprints for a wholesome conversation – one person genuinely wanting to know and understand the other person for all that they are (and are not).

Do we ever really have such meaningful conversations in real life? When we set out to know someone, how much do we assume? In each conversation, how much do we talk and how much do we listen? How often have you swallowed whole words – rants, opinions, ideas that tiptoed around your lips but couldn’t step out – because no one seemed to bother? Who would want to know? Why would anyone be interested in knowing about my life, my dreams, my insane yet exhilarating ideas, my sleepless nights, my blissful moments, the battles in which I emerged victorious and also those that crushed me yet left me laced with wisdom and lessons to last a lifetime? What if you have all this to tell but no one would ask?

So yeah Auggie I agree, receiving a standing ovation would be pretty awesome but if we get a little more basic here, everyone deserves to be heard – truly, clearly, patiently – at least once in their lifetime.

Everyone deserves a voice.

Everybody wants to be heard. Validate them. ‘I see you. I hear you. And what you say matters to me.’ Oprah winfrey

It’s a selfish world out there where everyone wants to be heard but no one truly wants to listen. Next time you interact with someone, pause and notice: are you truly listening to what the other person is saying or are you only listening to reply? Listen to not just their words, listen to the tone of their voice, the changes in their body language – do they all align?

The infamous “How are you? I’m fine” interchange cringes me out, to be honest. Have you ever imagined how many people you met were on the verge of a breakdown or going through their roughest day in weeks and all they needed was someone to listen? Someone who would retort to their “I’m fine” with an “are you sure?”. Someone with whom interactions are memorable, not mundane. Someone who ensures that others’ voices are heard. Try and be that person next time.

Everyone deserves a voice and everyone deserves to be heard; perhaps it is through hearing out other people, that you too find your voice. I did.