Having a Voice

Published: Tue, 03/18/25

Angela Howell - Ordinary Life ... Extraordinary Perspective

Hello FTG Friends!

Thank you for your patience during this pause in my weekly newsletters. I've needed to sort out what I most want and need moving forward and that took some time.

After six years of sending an email every single Tuesday for 318 weeks in a row, I've decided to continue sending emails occasionally, but not weekly. Please make sure you're followng me on Instagram and Facebook for your "gifts" in between emails. The links for those are below.

I appreciate you and always welcome your feedback in the FTG Facebook group, in social media post comments, or as replies to my emails.

Now onto today's meditation, expanding on the idea of knowing what we want and need, and having the courage to speak up.

Having a Voice

When we designed our new house in the woods, I told the builder I wanted working windows at the bath. He said, "Are you sure you don't want a big, beautiful, paneless window?" I said, "Yes I'm sure. I want functioning windows."

This past weekend was a perfect example of why I am so glad I honored the part of me that didn't care what type of bathroom window everyone else usually chooses. I want to be connected to nature as much as possible—hearing, as well as seeing. When I take my bath, it is pure heaven to be able to open the window when the temperature allows (or crack it, if it's raining). An open window at the bathtub, hearing everything the same as if I were standing in my backyard, is the next best thing to a bathtub outside. Maybe someday... ; )

On Saturday, I took a morning bath specifically because of the incredible storms we were having, the moody light, and my ability to crack open the window, The sound of the rain and the thunder was heavenly, and that may hold the record for my longest bath ever.

Want to hear, see and feel what I did? Click the screenshot below and turn the sound up for a 12-second video of thunderstorm bliss!

I am grateful for my personally-meaningful bath sanctuary. (Who cares what "most" people put in their bathrooms.) However, I'm even more grateful for my ability to know what I want and use my voice to ask for it.

There have been many times in the construction of this home (and our ongoing projects since moving in) where I felt the urge to shrink back about something I prefer, telling myself, "Never mind, it's not that important." But my personal journey has taught me that my needs and wants are important TO ME, and are worth asking for.

We won't always get what we want, but knowing what we want and then asking for it is a way to honor ourselves, and build self-worth.

Knowing what we want comes from spending time with ourselves and listening to that still small voice. We have to make sure we're giving ourselves room for these inner expressions to come to the surface.

I deserve to take up space and so do you! What is it you've wanted to voice an opinion about, or a preference, a wish?

Maybe you don't need permission from anyone but yourself? Can you create some space to listen to what your spirit is longing for, and unless there's a good reason not to, can you honor that voice in some way? Even if the whole thing desired is not possible or practical, how can you give yourself more of what you really want or need?

May your day be gift-filled, as a result of idenitifying what is truly important to you, even if no one else gets it. Remember, you're worth it! 😌🙏🏻🎁

Does today's meditation resonate with you? Please share your voice in our FTG Readers Group on Facebook. Your hopes, thoughts and dreams matter to me.

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Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share with a friend.

Big announcement about the 10th anniversary edition of Finding the Gift, and the painting of the week are below!

Until next time...

To your gifts!

Angela

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To YOUR gifts,

Angela

1 Shoreside Dr
Hendersonville TN 37075
USA

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