The Power of Voice: My Hope to One Day Share My Story Out Loud

Writing has become a powerful outlet for me, especially as I navigate my journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). It’s how I’ve processed my thoughts, shared my experiences, and connected with others in ways I never imagined. But there’s another part of me—one that longs to speak these words aloud, to stand before others and share my story with the same authenticity and strength I’ve found in writing.

I write because it allows me to explore my emotions and thoughts in a way that feels safe and controlled. The words come easily when they’re on a page. But speaking? That’s a different challenge. The idea of sharing my story verbally, of standing in front of an audience and using my voice to connect, inspire, and inform, feels like an important next step in this journey. Yet, it also feels daunting.

Living with MS has changed many things in my life, but it hasn’t quieted my desire to communicate openly and honestly. In fact, it has amplified it. I want to talk about what it’s like to live with this invisible battle, to share the lessons I’ve learned, and to help others see that strength and vulnerability can coexist. But more than anything, I want to have the confidence to express myself out loud, as well as I do in writing.

I often imagine what it would be like to speak my story. To let my voice carry the weight of my experiences and my hopes for the future. I want to find that same flow I feel when I write, where the words come naturally and effortlessly. I want to engage with people face-to-face, to look into their eyes as I share my truth, and to create a sense of connection that only comes from hearing someone’s voice.

Public speaking has never been my natural strength. Writing is my refuge, where I can carefully craft my thoughts and take the time to get the words just right. But there’s something uniquely powerful about the spoken word. It’s immediate, raw, and alive in a way that writing can’t always capture. And while I may not be there yet, I hold onto the hope that one day, I will be.

I’ve realized that it isn't a fear of speaking in public—it’s about fully owning my story. It’s about stepping into my voice, trusting that what I have to say matters, and believing that I can share it just as powerfully out loud as I do in writing. I want to use my voice to raise awareness about MS, to empower others who are facing their own battles, and to let people know that they are not alone.

One day, I hope to speak about my journey with the same confidence and clarity I find in writing. I hope to stand on a stage, in front of an audience, and share my story—not perfectly, but authentically. And when that day comes, I know that every word will carry with it the strength I’ve found along the way.

Until then, I’ll keep writing, using this space to continue exploring my thoughts and emotions. But I won’t give up on my dream to speak my truth out loud, to let my voice be heard in the same way my words are read. It’s a journey, and I’m learning to embrace every part of it.

A Voice Yet to Rise

I write with ease, my thoughts take flight,

Each word a step, each phrase a light.

But still, I dream of speaking clear,

Of finding words that all can hear.

There’s power in my written page,

But in my heart, there stirs a rage -

A hunger for a voice to sound

As strong as when my pen is found.

I hope one day to speak as true,

To share my thoughts, as writers do,

Without the fear, without the pause,

To let my voice take up the cause.

For deep inside, the words reside,

And with each breath, they will collide

Until they rise and fill the air,

As well as they’ve been written there.

One day, I’ll speak with steady grace,

My voice, my truth, will find its place.

Much love,

E.P.