What we can speak for

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In this age in which it is so easy to get information on pretty much anything you can imagine, most of us can speak about many things. Not to mention, have an opinion on anything that comes up ~ whether it is something that directly affects us personally, affects our lives; or if it is something that has nothing to do with us whatsoever... We sure know how to voice where we stand on it.

This, of course, is a good thing. The better informed we are, the better decisions we can make; and the better we can prioritize and organize our lives. In theory.

Like it is with almost anything in life at the moment, polarities are important. When our only focus is on voicing our opinions, on speaking up, on giving others the information we already have ~ there is the possibility of falling a little short on listening. On truly hearing what the other person has to say, on taking in the information that is offered ~ perhaps in a different manner than we anticipated.

Yet ultimately, the thing may be most important is for us to differentiate between what we can speak about and what we can speak for...

What we can speak for are those things we actually own. The things that are our responsibility. Whether that is our behavior, our work, our home, family, car... In a sense they are the things where it is up to us as an individual to make decisions about, to follow up on, etc.

For instance, we can not speak for the opinion of another person, yet we can own (and speak for) our own opinions. It will be close to impossible for us to prioritize everything going on in someone else’s life ~ and yet it is important to take time to get our own priorities straight.
It is vital to speak up on things that directly affect us personally, that influence our individual lives ~ as that is where not only our responsibility but also our power lies. The power to change, the power to enhance, even the power to empower ourselves.

And from that perspective one could argue that it would behoove us to speak about those things...

The things close to us.
The things that we, as an individual can influence and change.
The things that bring more happiness into our (personal) lives.

Of course this doesn’t mean that we cannot, or should not have opinions on other things that are going on. But in reality, the only place where we can bring about changes that make this world a better place is right where we can touch it personally.
It is in the things we can speak for.
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