Why am I even doing this?
Hello, it’s Bradley again! I’ve been documenting my journey to finally speak up after the age of 50 for several reasons. For starters, writing it all down helps me stay organized and accountable. When you know others are following along, you feel that little push to keep going and track your progress. But honestly, the bigger reason is I think a lot of people out there, just like me, have never really been able to speak up. And maybe, like me, you grew up being the “good kid” -praised for staying quiet, keeping your head down, and not rocking the boat.
You learn that keeping quiet works. It becomes a way of life. And then, years down the line, you realize you’ve mastered the art of being invisible. Maybe you haven’t hit 50 yet; maybe you’re a teenager or in your 20s or 30s, and you’re already feeling like speaking up is a struggle. Let me tell you, I get it. I’m a Gen Xer, and I think my generation was raised a little differently than those before or after. Many of us were taught to fly under the radar, to not cause a fuss and now, we're, finally, realizing that might not be serving us so well.
I know you're out there somewhere.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s work on this together. I’ve made some progress myself, taken some good steps, and it’s been working pretty well so far. I’m adjusting as I go, and I’d love to hear from others who are on a similar journey. What have you found that works? What holds you back? Share your experiences. Let’s trade advice and support one another.
Speaking up doesn’t happen overnight. But it can happen. And even though I’ve got a long way to go, I can confidently say that I’ve already seen some success. One major breakthrough for me was the decision to stop apologizing unnecessarily. That was a big one! Surprisingly, it was easier to do than I expected. Now, I’m working on the next challenge: reaching out to people.
Sorry to bug ya.
I’ve never been great at reaching out, even to close family or friends. Like many people in my family, I’ve always had this fear of bothering others. “What if they’re busy?” or “I’ll wait until I have good news to share,” I’d tell myself. But sometimes, all you need is to say “hi,” check in, and let people know you’re thinking about them. That’s something I’m actively working on now, and for whatever reason, I'm finding it much more difficult that the apology thing. We'll be diving deeper into that as it unfolds.
Again, I'm a work in progress!
Honk!
Since I began this journey, I've noticed several, almost comical traits, that I've developed in my life. One of the funnier realizations I had recently was how much I avoided using my car horn. I went through most of my life not honking at anyone, whether someone cut me off in traffic or even when I saw a friend I knew. I’d think, “I don’t want to make them mad” or “I don’t want to attract attention to myself.” But now, I’ve started using my horn, appropriately, of course, and it’s been strangely empowering! Who knew a little beep could feel like such a big win?
So, here’s where I’m at: I’m learning to speak up, to reach out, and to assert myself in small but meaningful ways. It’s not perfect, and I’ve got a lot more to work on, but it feels good to be making progress. If any of this sounds familiar, I’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re 20, 30, 50, or beyond, if you’re struggling with finding your voice, let me know. Maybe we can help each other out along the way.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to connect with more of you soon. Let me know if this resonates, or if you’ve got any tips or thoughts for me. I’d love to hear them.
Until next time, Bradley