Right after I emailed my newsletter last week, I realized it had a bunch of typos.
My first thought was, “D’oh.”
But then my emotions totally bounced back to being chill with it.
This is not how I used to react to these sort of situations.
I used to feel really bad about finding typos in my published work as a writer and entrepreneur. I would go down a spiral of how unprofessional that makes me look.
“If people see typos, then they will think I am a bad writer.”
But last week, I let it roll off me. These days I have compassion for myself. And I accept typos are inevitable with my life as it is.
Now I’m so excited to talk to you about it because TYPOS are the bane of existence for a lot of people who want to write more powerfully.
This post is part of a series on the layers to take your writing vision through if you want to know what to write as a business owner for your site, your copy, your content, your book, etc so you connect to the people you need to talk to.
This will help you understand what typos are really about,
Not the BS.
How do they happen?
Why because people are lazy of course.
No—not really. LOL. Take me for example:
I knew exactly what had happened last week to make typos- One time, I was writing and my fiance came past my desk wanting to talk. I said I was busy. Later, he was done remote work, and wanted to get me to watch this silly video.
Even though both times I told him I couldn’t hang out because I was in the middle of writing,
interacting with my fiance still diverted my focus long enough to lose the thread!
I noticed those exact two places in the writing afterwards.
Now here’s the thing, I could have done a final proofreading before sending.
But I didn’t.
I didn’t because I was buying into some BS about writing.
There’s BS about a lot of things, BS about typos, but this time the root problem was BS about urgency.
It had been a week since my last email and I didn’t want to be “late” sending it every week.
Now I’m thinking, “Damn, that’s a rule only I am in charge of enforcing.”
Red flag for B.S…..
I wanted to chill with my fiance. I wanted it to be “on time.” I trusted that life itself would survive without me putting any more work into it and I pressed send.
So that’s the story. I’m not sharing this to be like, “I beg you, please excuse my typos.” I do have a point.
And it is to point out B.S.
All I would change about last week was to wait for MY right timing to send the email, instead of forcing myself to press send a little early.
B.S. made me do it.
I spent hours on the content so I would have liked it to be polished AF.
Then I could have had the best of all possible worlds.
But lesson learned.
As always:
You don’t always see BS until it becomes clear to you.
But it’s cool.
BS sneaking into my work? Hey, this is perfect.
My imperfection is now your opportunity, baby.
Because now it’s a perfect opportunity to talk about TYPOS!
Let’s dig into this meaty topic.
When people think about writing well they usually think of eliminating typos as part of that.
In fact, having a typo or a broken link or something like that can drive people so insane–making them feel scared or ashamed or embarrassed when they realize the typo is public.
This is BS.
It is actually very harmful to you as a writer.
Remember that in a publishing house, the writer and the editor are two different people. There can even be a third person to proofread the final errors.
Combining all three jobs into one, and calling it writing is insane.
No, it literally drives people crazy.
Sometimes they feel a deep need to get it all right but it means that they never, ever publish anything.
They never write a first draft at all.
They edit it so much that it never gets sent.
I’ve heard several people have a drawer of terrible book manuscripts they are hiding away.
AND if people with a deep need to have it all right DO publish or share their writing,
sometimes it ends up so stilted and “perfect” from editing that it isn’t actually as great as the original text.
Gah!
OUCH so you see why this is a really big problem?
If you overcome a need to be perfect enough to publish, which not everyone does–
Then it’s still easy to over-edit and lose a key ingredient:
The magic.
The magic that will draw readers to you, clients to you, people to you.
Who?
You know:
THE PEOPLE
The people who get you,
who need what you have to say,
who were born on this planet to interact with you
–somehow, someway as long as you can show up…
If your writing is not out there with all the magic you COULD be writing into your words, they miss you.
What would fix all of that?
Dun da da da:
THE MAGICAL INGREDIENT IS ACCEPTANCE.
1. Accept typos will happen.
At this point I’ve been blogging since I was 12 years old. I’m published in about 5 books, multiple magazines and perform my own original songs.
I write and press publish on my writing alot, so I can only EXPECT to have typos.
I see it as par for the course. It is going to happen.
I value both being prolific and highly enthusiastic about sharing. More work out there + More sharing: more people see my work.
I do hire editors sometimes, but for many things it feels unnecessary and constraining.
I just do my best and fix typos afterwards if I need to. And the truth is, despite having the occasional typo or mistake, I get really good feedback about my writing. That’s given me confidence. I bounce back after mistakes.
Were my typos so horrible? Nah.
After receiving my typo-filled email, zero people unsubscribed.
And that’s because writing is more than typos–writing is about making sure people get an overall message.
That is what the people remember
That’s what the people YOU are writing to are going to remember.
Sure, you want to avoid typos but don’t worry too much–it is inevitable.
Focus on the bigger picture of communicating a larger idea. That is the good stuff.
If that is clear enough, usually readers can figure out what you are trying to say and gloss over the bit that didn’t make perfect sense.
COMMUNICATION is what good writing is really about, not eliminating typos.
Most people don’t consciously know this is what writing really is about, but when you come across good writing, you FEEL it.
You think about what you read later. You remember. You are interested in more.
If you read a typo, you might even forget it happened because the rest outshines it.
You want to create more of that kind of writing, I’m sure.
So take my advice and use this to get clear on your writing vision for your book or business copy:
ACCEPT SHIT
When you are in a state of acceptance about the limitations that human people have–that you have–then you can focus on what is really a priority for you.
That clarity makes for good writing.
2. Know your True Priorities (and Accept them)
YOU CANNOT BE PERFECT
SO WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO TRY TO BE THE MOST PERFECT AT?
Prioritizing is a huge topic I’ll only gloss over now but I will go deeper into it in the 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation workshop series in the summer.
But let me say that in my life, my relationship with my fiance is a priority. If it is 5:45 pm and my fiance is done with work all of a sudden, even if I was happily writing before he came out to my work area, I’ll probably want to stop.
I could put up a sign all day long to say, “Don’t BOTHER me” but I do not regret that I did not that one day.
Because I LOVE HIM. I love that he wants to squeeze my shoulder or talk to me.
And I love me, and it makes me feel good to be with him.
I like the extra love right now, like a lot. I just lost my dad 6 months ago. So if I need to just let a few typos go and move on with my life, that’s ok. —-> INSERT YOUR BIG PICTURE SITUATION HERE←—- Now accept it. What matters to you matters to you. The rest? Not so much.
3. Accept what you are giving up.
I totally accept that not everyone is going to see things my way about typos.
Some people will judge me for my typos. They may judge me for not getting an editor to go through every email and blog and social media post.
I can accept that. It’s not going to change what I am doing right now.
I trust that the right people will still dig my words.
I trust that I am learning and growing and improving everything, as well, and I’m enough.
It’s enough. We are all enough. It’s okay.
This is my perspective–
I’m not saying I don’t care about typos.
I have for years agonized about typos and I still look for them. I fix everything I notice.
BUT I’m no slave to them.
They don’t own me.
They don’t pay my bills. They don’t buy me birthday presents.
You feel me? Typos just exist, the rest is what my mind makes up about them.
(Judging yourself for something made up is classic BS) And I’m also cool with typos because I want to connect to people who are cool with me not being a slave, who like what I am saying overall even if a few typos show up. That is a deeper and less fragile connection. And deep connection is a big priority for me.
I’m going to hazard a guess, that if you are still with me–eliminating typos are not a true priority for you, either.
If you have fuzziness, don’t worry, I’ll keep talking more about priorities in my next post.
Sign up here to get the whole 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation series in order, by email, with some other special things.
Until then this is your reminder: release shame or judgment so you can discern what is important.
Whether it is judgement towards yourself for being imperfect grammatically… other people in your field for doing things differently… people doing what you want to be doing…
Just breath. Remember the big picture. Take a step back.
It’s time to accept and follow these three steps!! Have a great day.
caption for image
Registration opening soon for the workshops that go even deeper
“7 Layer Writing Vision Activation” course,
Get clear on what to write.
Writeabout your work on your website, do copywriting, create FUN business content, or get clear on what your book is about Develop clarity of your ideas so you know what to do next to find the right words to share with people.
Make the important decisions that will shape how you will effectively share your book or business with the world to get the right people reading.
Make progress on all the writing you need to do for your business or nonfiction book.
Includes:
-7 live online group coaching meetings:
a 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation journey spanning every two weeks from June-August to deep dive into clarifying your writing vision so you can get it out from your soul, onto the page and into the world.
-Bonus Worksheets & 40+ videos
The online vault for my Homestudy course Psychic Mermaid Creatrix will help you tap into your inner mermaid, so you always know what to do next to write and do business from your inner genius
-Bonus Notion Template Set:
Digital Templates + Video Training to organize your ideas, projects and keep you focused on what you need to do to make significant progress. Everything is customizable!
–Bonus Group Voxer Coaching:
Get your questions answered between workshop sessions with free weekly texts and voice note communication with Sofia. Shared in a private group for 6 months. (Wow, don’t know if I will offer this lengthy bonus again!)
Signups are coming soon for
the “7 Layer Writing Vision Activation” online workshops. If you want to get clear on what to write so you make faster progress in a feel-good flow, watch out for the sign ups coming soon!
Until next time be accepting. (And hey, why not be kind as well)
7 layers to take your writing vision through to make progress on your book or business copy
THE FOUNDATION
What’s in the way of your next huge idea?
There are so many wounds that come up as you prepare to write or create for your purpose or soul-aligned business.
People don’t see anything on the outside, but I define a wound as anything that dims your sparkle
If you are like most people, you want to be known for your gifts and the things you want to say, but you are blocked from writing or sharing it.
A lot of times it shows up as lack of clarity.
Overwhelm.
Not knowing what to do.
But that’s the wrapper.
What I’m REALLY talking about is the thing that is blocking your inspiration.
Something is blocking the way of the stream of ideas that wants to inspire you in your book or business.
There’s a reason you haven’t told the world yet about your new offer, your business, your sales page, your posts, your book:
it is hitting an edge.
What is it edging into?
-Criticism and times your work or message was ignored.
-Shaky foundations and ill-fitting rules you were taught about that limit how to write or run a business
-Any suggestion that what matters to you is not good enough to be an urgent priority
All of this invalidates the genius that is in you, and stops the flow.
Whether it is overt negative feedback that has torn you down or sucked the inspiration out of things
—or something less obvious and more insidious—
it can all work the same way to hold you back.
That’s bad.
If you hold back, then what you have to offer stays the world’s big secret.
Now there is such a thing as divine timing, so follow what is most ripe for the picking.
Take it one step at a time.
Here’s a suggestion of where to start.
Plant your feet and reconnect to Layer 1: The Foundation.
Today’s hint to addressing this layer so you can write about what you do or what you have to say:
——>You need to have room to connect to the foundation that sustains you and affirms you.
which can mean….
Dun da da da!!!
Clearing out a bunch of sh!t.
Now this isn’t glamorous work. It may be boring. It may be stressful. It may be annoying AF
But freaking just do it already.
Even just for a few intentional minutes every day
One big issue is CLUTTER—
it is so easy to clutter your life, both with ideas and physical objects.
It’s not a new idea to you because it is so basic.
Everyone needs to put work into this, all the time, for the rest of their lives.
You might want to roll your eyes at me,
“Sofia, I have heard about decluttering before, who do you think I am?
Decluttering is bad, yeah yeah yeah, increase the flow, uh huh.”
BUT admit it, if you look around you—
do you see clutter?
Not just physically but:
On your computer or desk?
On your todo list?
Is there a clear sense of order where you have a down-and-pact rhythm to removethe things that are notyour current focus?
MENTALLY
PHYSICALLY
SPIRITUALLY
EMOTIONALLY
Being able to clear these things out is one practice that can support you on the first foundational layer of your vision.
This helps you to:
Make SPACE for the vision, clarity and stability you know you want to have (but don’t actually have room for).
So this means:
Remove rules that do not work for you.
Remove items that you are not using now.
Remove tasks or ideas that divert your focus from what is important.
Saying NO so you can say YES to your purpose.
To do this completely you may need more clarity, sure,
but sometimes you can just get started by looking around and asking yourself,
“Is this a priority right now?”
“Will it be a priority next week?”
“Will it be a priority next month?”
I.e. “Do I actually really need this in my face or space right now?”
Try it for five minutes. Really. Not for emails but for something else…
If the answer to any of those previous questions is ‘no’—
Then snooze it or lose it.
Put it away or throw it away.
Whether it is,
things written down,
physical stuff or digital crap,
anything that you see constantly—
the process of unloading these items from gathering your attention will free up your creative channel to write more, create more, share more, be more.
You’ll do more strategic things in writing and business when you have space to focus.
I’m all for reaching for the stars, but I don’t expect constant perfection on this.
What I demand is FLOW.
Because you deserve to feel this good
Flow: a continually turning around cycle.
As with all layers, you will return back to this layer periodically.
If you are committed to a path of sharing who you are, what you do and what you have to say as a business owner or as a part of your mission here on the planet, this is not over.
This is the beginning of the present moment, and what you do today will push a wheel into motion to drive you faster towards the huge dreams that you seek.
But first you want to check to see if there is anything cluttering your path.
Don’t force a wheel past an obstacle when you could remove it.
Remove a few things. The wheel can turn easily when you have less things in the way!
To give you space to tap into the genius of who you really are:
the shiny, sparkly mermaid genius rockstar with something here to do on the planet that you want other people to know about.
You want to be seen as that shimmering vision who has it all together with her business or book?
Make room and get into a cycle of progress.
And it is not about being perfect.
Focus on the participation in the cycle and dance of the rhythm of creation; a series of rituals, not just a one-time goal.
Make this theme a bigger part of your life through intentional awareness about it
Even fractional movements will give you progress on your projects, and they will pay off 1000x if you stay in the flow of it just by being consistent.
Registration opening soon for the workshops that go even deeper
“7 Layer Writing Vision Activation” course,
Get clear on what to write.
If you need to write about your work on your website, do copywriting, or get clear on what your book is about, this is for you!
You’ll develop clarity of your ideas so you know what to do next to find the right words to share with people.
Make those important decisions that will shape how you share your book or business with the world.
Make progress on all the writing you need to do for your business or book.
Includes:
-7 live online group coaching meetings:
a 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation journey spanning every two weeks from June-August to deep dive into clarifying your writing vision so you can get it out from your soul, onto the page and into the world.
-Bonus Worksheets & 40+ videos
The online vault for my Homestudy course Psychic Mermaid Creatrix will help you tap into your inner mermaid, so you always know what to do next to write and do business from your inner genius
-Bonus Notion Template Set:
Digital Templates + Video Training to organize your ideas, projects and keep you focused on what you need to do to make significant progress. Everything is customizable!
-Bonus Group Voxer Coaching:
Get your questions answered between workshop sessions with free texts and voice note communication with Sofia in a private group for 6 months. (Wow, don’t know if I will offer this lengthy bonus again!)
Join us to get into your mermaid flow with greater clarity and confidence
& write for your book or business. <3
Signups are coming soon for the June-August session of
the live 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation workshops.
Watch out for my next blog with another tip for this layer!
Or if you really want to get clear on what to write for your business copy or book–
sign up below to get everything in this free series sent to you by email.
Me: born on a small island in Massachusetts, spending every childhood summer at the beach.
I loved the beach AND I longed for more. Being an only child and often playing alone, I dealt with my extreme boredom by:
-using my imagination to dream and be creative,
-reading fantasy and fairy tales,
-devouring the New Age section.
In my dreams, I was always a mermaid or a witch…definitely somebody magic.
By middle school, I had a blog to share my thoughts and enthusiasm for life, but that’s when I lost something.
I started getting bullied in school and at home.
It started intensely because of my fascination with magic and how it confused people. Over years of not feeling accepted, I adjusted to try to be perfect to avoid the danger of being ridiculed or emotionally attacked.
I put my blog on private. I stopped singing, stopped writing, except for tiny little things that let the steam out on my angst. I expressed in black & white colors, not rainbow.
Thank god*dess I started a business. Next time I’ll share why I decided to do that, but taking myself more seriously and learning how to market myself, how to do copywriting, all led me on a huge healing journey.
I started showing up, being me. Creating content and copy slowly became FUN.
It pulled me out of my shell as I shared my writing and business. I began selling my magical services, everything from coaching to Tarot to massage to healing sessions.
I wrote about my business and personal transformation on my blog and social, meeting people all over the world.
Now after almost 10 years, my specialty is helping other people write for soul-aligned businesses and transformational books.
Why this?
When you:
-put information about yourself on your website for your business
-share words that are coming from your soul in a book or blog to help someone transform
-write a sales page or marketing copy about your course, or program
It is the path to heal your wounds and show up fully as yourself.
When I did that, everything else in my life opened up. I am living something better than my fantasies because it’s real.
Something is happening & it’s more important than it seems.
This past week I’ve been riding a new wave of energy and asking:
Why I am here?
What I am here to help people with?
Where should my business be headed? Along with all the other creations in my life…
These are the kind of questions we reflect on in my Psychic Mermaid Creatrix course:
an online group coaching program for entrepreneurs, creators and writers to make progress on their projects by tapping into the intuition of their inner mermaid so they always know what to do next.
But holy cow, something new is brewing!!
A new rush of energy is coming through me as I prepare to spread the word about this program that I’m planning to relaunch to start in June-August of 2022.
I’m really called to be of service to you in a higher way and bring so many of my skills together so it’s even more targeted for a specific purpose.
It is CHANGING
If you are
-struggling to put writing up about your work, and your message on your website, or
-writing for your book, blog, or course.
-making strategic decisions about your business, blog or book that you have to make before you can put the words together to write and market yourself–
THEN WHAT IS COMING WILL BE THE COURSE FOR YOU.
You will be the first to hear more about when enrollment opens up so stay tuned.
But stay with me, I’m announcing something free for you right now!
In the new live version of the course I will be offering a 7 Layer Writing Vision Activation.
It is about bringing your book or business through your body and energy system to pull it into the world in the most aligned and magical way.
It will help everyone to:
have clarity on the next step for their book or business,
know what to do next,
and make choices in the best way to put their vision out into the world and put it into words for their audience.
In fact, I’ve decided to give everyone a free taste of this process in a 7 part email series
You’ll be getting keys every week by email to explore each level necessary to pull your project through to take aligned actions and create the best results when you put it out there.
What it is not:
Now this will not be advice on grammar or writing the way your English teacher taught you.
You might be surprised that writing or business starts on a level beyond words.
All kinds of creative activity or manifesting works this way.
That’s why I always say that Psychic Mermaid Creatrix has always been about creating for your book or business, primarily, but the principles can be applied to basically anything.
That’s because all creating works the same way–it starts with energy, you work with it (there’s over 40 videos on how) and then it becomes various things.
This is how I am creative across so many avenues: writing music, writing emails, writing books…they really are all very different but I know the principles of creating are the same.
Example?
In the fall round of the course, I ended up selecting a replacement (i.e. my 2nd) engagement ring made of alexandrite and doing a range of engagement photos.
I have a bunch of photos framed on my wall now thanks to the support of the group when I told them I was completely procrastinating on getting prints and we dug into how much of a big deal it was to me.
After months of stalling, with my mermaid flow activated I got the prints and frame done with my fiance and nailed it on the wall in about 3 days.
Didn’t see that coming but totally love it.
Why? How are we doing any of this?
1. Creating anything starts as an energy, and then you work with that and see what it wants to become.
(Topic for another day but: Your book or business has opinions about itself).
2. You also decide what you want it to become.
Clarity of vision is so important because I’m sure you’ve gotten things in life before that you don’t like.
3. Through this collaborative process of working with and shaping the energy, you end up having:
-a really pretty website, or
-a description for your Instagram handle,
-or a book,
-or an engagement ring.
Sometimes people have come to me with a book idea or a course idea and then it became a youtube video or a podcast.
Things change either because the core energy of it wants to be something else, or you clarify your desired vision in a new direction, or both.
And that’s just one easy to understand example because this stuff can lead you in some pretty unpredictable places–
but you will love it because it will be the thing that is actually aligned that you might not have realized you really wanted all along.
And if you are here with a purpose:
you were put on this planet to help people,
you were put on this planet to enjoy the ride
(and, NO, those two are not mutually exclusive–
f&ck that, excuse my french)
If you do not manifest some aspect OF that purpose
or at least move into the direction of it energetically…
If there is a slice you are putting off or ignoring completely
for more than a couple of months but it really wants to be born…
and whatever has you stalling isn’t a really good reason…
Then you are shooting yourself in the foot, my friend.
Because that website you’ve been meaning to get up, or that book, or that thing you are here to write, create or work on
IS eating you up in the back of your mind.
Or if it is not, and it is meant for you and you’ve dismissed it as impossible because you couldn’t possibly charge for it or get people to read it,
and you don’t even think about it much anymore,
not because it’s not for you but because you’ve decided YOU are not enough for it…
then that’s bad for your self esteem, hun.
And blocks for your self esteem mean you’ll put up with crap in your life that you really don’t need to put up with
or stall on receiving some really cool, fun things that I would love for you to enjoy.
And that’s why I’m here to be the mermaid fairy godmother you may have never known you really wanted LOL.
Because it’s really not about the writing, the book, the site, whatever.
It’s about you shining and getting the writing and work OUT,
showing up in the world and being seen MOSTLY by yourself as the person who got to do all this awesome stuff in your life,
but, hell, by other people, too, because you have something to SHARE.
And I like to see it all coming together.
So I’ll see you in the next installment to start raining down more great stuff to bring your writing, your business copy, your book, through 7 different energetic layers,
so that you can make progress and finally explode it into the world in fiery glory.
Ready to make progress on the writing you need to do for your business or book in a soul-aligned way?
Last week was a furious ride of fundraising for Her Future Foundation to meet an important goal.
My energy has been dragging now that the emergency is over, but I had to pop in to let everyone know–
we made last week’s goal to help girls in Sierra Leone and even surpassed it!!!
We helped Her Future Foundation with the $700 needed to help the lives of girls who are vulnerable to suffering through child marriage or FGM.
They had to get it super fast, and we did it. We’ve supported them to pay the fee to gain NGO status which will help them find sustainable funding to continue their good work.
The founder, Ariefa, wanted to say thank you to everyone.
The 80 girls that Her Future Foundation watches over and protects from predators and FGM are part of the work that they do, but they always want to do more and more. They really want to end FGM and child marriage all through their country.
With the fundraising of money complete last week, the organization was able to do even more for girls:
After paying the NGO fee, this organization quickly rolled into the next crisis which was helping 7 girls in the same community. They found out their parents had decided to take them to undergo FGM. From photos I have seen the girls going through this all look to be under 10 years old.
Ariefa couldn’t necessarily stop the parents because it is not an illegal act (yet) but he brilliantly found other ways to help the girls. He organized health care for them, and talked to the board of education to help them retake the exams that the FGM would cause the girls to miss.
Seriously, I’m so grateful Ariefa and his team are doing what they are doing.
So yes I’m so pleased we met our goal. It really is important to stop and appreciate everything we have.
Thank you so much to everyone who has done what you have done, it is such a blessing to these girls and also has so many ripple effects you may not realize. The work they do is amazing
And of course, there is always more work for us big-hearts to do, too!
If you want to donate to the organization so they can continue to expand the work that they are doing in Sierra Leone to end FGM and child marriage and instead empower girls, you can go here:
We are passing it forward. Turning dollars into love and compassion.
And at the very least, we all deserve compassion–me and you, no matter what we give (or not) we can always start there.
Appreciating how we feel, what we have, what we were born with, what we can offer.
You have something bubbling in your heart?
I’m here to help you if you need to get your calling out into the world, get it on your website, emails, blog, or in your book–however that message that needs to be heard.
This week taught me how valuable it is to be supported by the things we know we are meant to do.
The work, the message can open us and it can heal us. Sometimes something that seems like an inconvenience or a lot of work can save us time in the end because it will open up a new layer of who we are.
Leading the way for last week’s fundraiser did that for me.
I hope to tell you more about the things I am getting clear on upcoming posts
When it started out I was stressed that I wouldn’t make my fundraising goal.
But then everything changed.
If you didn’t see my email yesterday, a nonprofit I work with called Her Future Foundation really needs a $700 fee by Friday to get NGO status.
They need it so they can get 2 years of funding for their mission. They have a meeting on Friday and the need the fee for NGO status by then.
They protect 80 individual vulnerable girls from child marriage, FGM and human rights violations that often occur in Sierra Leone towards girls like them, who may have lost parents and the only way for them to survive could be to marry an adult man.
When I realized I was really stressed, I realized it wasn’t going to help me.
I’ve been through enough with my dad’s death and I had to train myself to stop myself when I go into a doom spiral.
So I calmed myself down and got present.
With time I calmed down, and then I came back to check in with myself.
I had an inner conversation with my pal Sofia Wren (me)
Part of me still wanted to know: “What will you do if you can’t find enough people to donate the money? What will happen to the girls? You have to find a way to help them.”
I have been involved in this organization for a year, and they don’t have a lot of donors.
At the time, no one had donated to my fundraiser yet.
The stakes felt pretty freaking high, which is why I was stressed. I just had found out the night before HOW needed the $700 was for the organization and the 80 girls they care for.
Ok…I thought some more about what I could do, what I could post to the world, who I could talk to…
Then it hit me–“I can cash out my bitcoin.”
Many years ago a client paid me for a service I was trying out, a sound healing, with bitcoin. He said, “This is going to be worth a lot of money one day.”
And then years later, Bitcoin blew up.
But recently, I’ve been disturbed by the environmental impact–that the carbon footprint of every transfer of bitcoin is equal to taking a plane ride.
That bitcoin collectively uses more energy than Sweden. And the higher value it is, the more energy it will use.
So I don’t really want bitcoin to increase in value, make me money and be successful anymore.
I had a little bit left, but I’d just been leaving it alone not sure what to do with it.
But now it felt right to cash out the bitcoin.
Take it out of a system that was harming the planet, and putting it into something I believe in:
THE POWER OF GIRLS!!!
The value a girl inherently has, has nothing to do with how smart, pretty or nice she is.
She deserves safety and protection from danger.
She deserves education.
Even if she is across the world.
So I just decided that was what I was going to do. And I instantly felt better.
TAKE THAT to every time I got the “little girl, sit down, shut up,” treatment.
NO
I will value girls.
And today I did it, I cashed out my bitcoin.
Whatever does not get raised for the girls in Sierra Leone, I will pay for out of my own pocket.
And I feel great. I feel like it is so beautiful and healing to make this investment–
and usually I feel good about investing in myself but this is so much bigger.
People are banding together.
I have received $270 so far from beautiful, beautiful souls who want to help the girls all along side of me. That’s from 5 wonderful people.
That’s close to half way to the goal of $700 that we have to raise by Friday.
If you want to team forces with us and be a part of a movement that is going to literally change the lives of 80 girls, you can join us.
Donating to this cause has made me more abundant:
I realize all the things that I have going for me.
In fact, it is healing my past.
I’m more grateful for the things I have received from others–
even where I will admit it, in my grief I have been bitter about things that were lost or unavailable.
I feel better about all of it because I am now more powerful than it.
I am the one who can hold a little girls hand and take her out of danger.
Like I am saying through my actions:
You don’t have to worry about that.
You will be safe.
You will be cared for.
You will have a future.
You will be an inspiration to the world and you will change everything just by being yourself.
I am that person leading that mission.
But you can be, too.
So even though, the girls will be ok, I will make sure that this fee is paid for them,
I want to invite you on this journey with me.
Because it’s not about me.
This is bigger than me. You can step up too, if it feels right.
This is about all of us. We can change the world together.
We can make the world less ugly.
We are not powerless. Even a dollar, or whatever you have is going to help these girls.
You have no idea the power of a dollar in their country.
In Sierra Leone that’s about how much you can purchase an 8-year-old for marriage to an adult man.
My friend Ariefa lives there.
He found out a 9-year-old from his community was to be married.
An FGM ceremony was arranged.
He said no. He got his community to stop it.
He got them to take off work and build her a one-room classroom out of sticks.
That began his nonprofit Her Future Foundation.
They are bigger now, got grants and flourished.
They serve 80 vulnerable girls that need a place to live, food, and education. Plus they have 300 students in school.
December their grants ended. It’s hard times right now but there’s hope to receive new grants on Friday that can protect these girls for 2 years or more.
But to get these girls over that gap, they need $700 to pay the fee to get NGO status in the USA.
They need it by Friday when they have an important donor meeting.
I am fundraising for him because I met him through my DC network of friends, and I know he is legitimate.
These human violations are too much.
For myself, I’ve experienced “little girl, sit down and shut up,” energy.
I’ve questioned my value if I wasn’t being good, or smart, or nice. But girls have an INHERENT value that is priceless.
When I support this organization, that’s what I stand for. It is HEALING all those times I was treated like I wasn’t valuable as a girl.
I’m thinking of cashing out certain investments that I feel are bad for the planet, and instead of putting them into this foundation that supports the future of safe, empowered girls.
Do you want to be part of a change with me?
Do you want to invest in the value of a girl and enable these girls to have a future with innocence, protection and education?
There’s been something so incredibly healing about digging into my own pocket and using my time to spread the word—if you have either to give it is appreciated.
Girl power:
Let’s try to make it halfway to the $700 goal today, we just need another 3 people to donate $50!
