Dear Troublemakers

Dear Troublemakers,

I want you know that I see how hard you work at trying to maintain the status quo while also wanting to change it as well. While everyone thinks that you’re trying to create problems on purpose, you’re really wanting to make things better for yourself and the other people in your life.

It’s frustrating seeing the cycle of intimidating or threatening others continues to happen when you use your voice. When the weight of the world gets too heavy, it can feel as if you’re just a problem in the world. It keeps happening over and over, therefore, it must be you, right? It can feel as if all these negative consequences are brought on by you and your big mouth or big dreams.

But it’s not you.

It’s the system.

The system does not like people who stray away from the status quo. It does not like change. And if you’re from a marginalized group, you’re even more of a threat. And it doesn’t mean that it is you. Or that you had it coming. Or that this has to continue to be your future - a life of walking on eggshells to avoid stepping on people’s toes.

Fellow misfits, I see you. I have been where you’ve been. You want to be able to use your voice without getting in trouble, whether that’s the cold shoulder or being written up at work. You want to advocate and you want change and you want to be able to it without having to accumulate more mental and emotional wounds.

I don’t have any suggestions or advice today, but I want you to know that I see you. I see your struggle and I see your pain and I see all the emotional labor you put into things and the mental efforts to hold back to avoid getting in trouble.

You are not alone.

Sincerely,

Alison