Writing your heart can be both liberating and scary. Sharing your soul to another is hard. You feel vulnerable, open for judgement and misinterpretation. Yet the more I observe the world around me the more I believe now is the time for us to raise our voices, to share our stories. 

Writing Living like Livvy wasn’t easy, sharing my heart with Andre often left me broken. Reliving the memories tore open my heart. I found myself sitting upstairs praying that when I walked downstairs Livvy would be sitting, laughing, clasping her hands with her cheeky smile on face. Writing her story brought her closer but it also renewed the rawness of her loss, the gut-wrenching anguish of the reality. 

Still I am thankful I did it and I’m sure Andre agrees that the hours, days, months invested were worth it. The impact Living like Livvy has made on this world has shocked us both. The ripples the book has created and how far they have reached is wider that I have imagined or dared hope for. Reaching into the hearts of Rett parents, informing professionals and raising awareness one page at a time. 

So, I guess what I am saying is sharing my story made a difference. I’ve received messages, emails from people who feel less alone due to my words. Professionals who have been educated by my story. 

Right now, in this world people are feeling isolated, different as if they are lost in a crowd. If my words can bring one person in from the dark I will continue to write. But my story is not everyone’s, to some my life may be an ocean away from theirs. I may not be the person some can relate to, but you may be. 

You could be. 

I’m not expecting everyone to be able to write a book, but for most of us social media is a tool we use daily. What if we all started being honest on our platforms, started sharing our realities rather than the rose-tinted perception’s we feel people want to see. Sharing our highs, our victories so that people can rejoice with us but also our battles, our daily struggles.

Let’s turn our social media into a celebration of truth.

Fighting off soul tearing comparison with the power of compassion.

Removing envy with the joy of celebration. 

Life was never meant to be a pathway we walk alone. It’s a journey full of laughter and love but it also one full of sadness and tears.

Let’s love one another openly truthfully and transparency.