I have been blessed in my life with many opportunities to touch other people’s lives, and to be touched by others.
Years ago, when my daughters were ‘tweens’, I did a lot of research on teen prostitution. The why’s of how I got involved are quite simple. I was in a time and place where I had an opportunity to learn something about a state of being I knew nothing about. And, I wanted to make a difference — in fact, I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t want to make a difference in the world.
At the time, I wrote a play with a group of teens who used an outreach program for street youth. Every Wednesday night I would go down to the storefront where the outreach program operated and meet with whomever turned up to talk about what they wanted to say. I’d then go away, write something, come back, talk about it and continue the process until three months later, we had a script. Another three months and the kids were ready to perform the play at a benefit concert I produced on behalf of the agency that ran the outreach program.
It was gruelling, exhausting, exhilarating and fulfilling work.
At the time, the kids and I shared a dream for what we would do with the play. We’d raise funds for a school tour. We’d take it across the country. The possibilities were limitless.
And then, I fell into the arms of an abuser and I let my dreams go. I forgot about my capacity to make a difference as I fell into the belief I didn’t make a difference, to anyone, to the world, to myself.
Fast forward 4 years 9 months later, to May 21 2003 when I am released from that living hell by a miracle that drove up in a blue and white police car and I am suddenly presented with the possibility that — I do/can make a difference.
I get busy.
Remembering.
Who I am.
Who I was.
What I was capable of, doing, being, achieving. I get busy remembering the limitless possibilities of my life in freedom.
And part of that remembering was to remind myself of what I had accomplished in the past that had made a difference in my life. In those moments when I felt like I simply could not carry the burden of my pain, shame, sorrow, or whatever else I was working through, I reminded myself of what I had done in the past to make a difference in the world.
And I began again. To take one step at a time, to remember — I make a difference simply by being present in the world, exactly the way I am, because I am my difference.
Just as you are yours.
Sometimes, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing, ‘I don’t really make a difference’. ‘There’s not much point in my difference.’
You do make a difference. There is a point in your difference in the world because your difference is unique to you. Without you, the world would be less one beautiful, unique and important difference — YOU and your light.
We never know when our difference will resonate with someone else. Shortly after being released from the darkness of that relationship, I was at a business meeting when a young man came racing across the room, hugged me and said, “Louise! It’s me. Dan! You saved my life!”
He had been one of the youth in the play. Since being part of the play, he had gone on to get straight, reconnected with his family and was now working, had a home of his own, a family, a dog and was thriving in life.
I demurred and reminded him that he was the one who saved his life. I just happened to be there. “No,” he insisted. “You gave me a stage to find my voice, to speak up.”
And in that moment, I was reminded, “We are all connected. We all make a difference.”
Dan’s difference resonated with me that day. It reminded me of the power we each have to be a light in this world, to hold the light in the darkness when others are lost. Many people held the light for me while I was lost — and I am grateful to be able to pay it forward, to continue shining brightly so that others too can find their way through the darkness.
Dare Boldly 
Powerful post Louise. Inspirational. You show a lot of courage and wisdom in equal measure. 🙂
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Thank you Stuart!
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Thank you Julie! I am grateful.
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Both your post and these comments are so inspiring!
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Thank you Jo-Anne! Someone asked me recently what I want most in the world and I replied — to inspire people to see their own magnificence. I hope you see yours Jo-Anne. Your willingness to turn up, pay attention, speak your truth and be present is inspiring. You are magnificent!
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What a wonderful story of strenght and caring you are a truly strong and amazing woman and you make a difference each and every day in many many ways including here in blog land your posts are inspiring for not only me but for many others as well
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Louise: I too needed to hear that today I make a difference. Sometimes we are overwhelmed with life and need to be reminded that I am needed and do make a contribution! So thank you for that reminder. Bev
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I am so glad dear Bev that my words touched your heart too. You always touch mine, always remind me that I too am needed. We are all needed dear Bev. And your beauty is always a gift.
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Louise, I was moved to tears by your story today because of my own story. My memoir, Diary of a Vet’s Wife, is due to be released within weeks and I’m swimming in second thoughts – How are my friends and family going to react, all the people I love, when they read it? How will they look at me then. Will they be angry? Will my story really make a difference, or will it only bring me shame again?
Your beautiful words filled me hope this morning and I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. lol
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Dear Nancy — never, ever doubt the power of your words to touch someone else, to awaken them to their beauty, courage, strength. Since my book was released I have received countless emails from women and men who have read it and have taken the time to write to tell me what a difference it has made to them. Just last Friday, standing in line for Superdogs at the Stampede a woman walked past, stopped and said — Louise! we chatted and she reminded me of how we’d met at a conference a couple of years ago. And I read your book, she said. You helped me so much!
Another time, a woman wrote to tell me that she had given her 23 year-old daughter my book. “you saved her life,” she said. The daughter finished reading my book at 3am, picked up the phone, called her parents and said, come and get me.
You are feeling the fear of being ‘seen’ Nancy. Of being vulnerable and real in a world that doesn’t always celebrate those who are vulnerable and real but a world which desperately needs people like you to stand up, be heard, be seen.
It is only fear you are feeling — and fear will always fade in the face of your courage, truth and beauty.
Well done! Congratulations on your soon to be released book! Yeah!!!!!
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Dear Louise, Thank you for your encouraging words. I will try to remember them as waves of self-doubt surface. Writing in my secret space all these years has protected me from these feelings. I once read something, “feel the fear and do it anyway.” So this is where I’m at, there’s no turning back, and maybe one day I’llI hear from someone who has been helped by my story. You are an amazing woman, thank you again. lol
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