“Hey Karen, are you free on Sunday evening to be a panelist on the Doris Davenport Show? She wants to interview facilitators from our Restorative Justice conference.”
I had received this text earlier in the week and, now, here I was, sitting on Zoom with three other amazing panelists. Despite the butterflies in my stomach, I had replied, “Yes.”
Other panelists spoke before me. They were highly respected community members known for their experience, wisdom, and leadership in social justice work. What they had to share was inspiring and informative.
My butterflies were really fluttering now. As I waited for Doris to ask me questions, I had to carefully monitor the thoughts in my head. They said things like:
“Why are you on this show? Sure, you have some experience in social justice, but you are not an expert like these other people. And these people do serious work to change the world! You are just doodling with folx. You are going to make a fool out of yourself.”
Furthermore, Doris sent me a private chat message asking me if I would lead the panel in re-imagining their stories about their votes not counting this tumultuous election period during the show. The butterflies started running into each other in my stomach, then, and the voices really got going:
“Oh now you are really going to make a fool out of yourself! This issue is so much bigger than you! What makes you think you have anything to contribute to this conversation?!”
But I typed back to Doris and I said, “Yes.”
It was time to stand centered in what I truly believe which is that creativity has a very important seat at the table of social justice and transformation. I was not an expert in everything they were talking about, but I have become an expert in unleashing innate creative power as a means of empowering people to imagine something different, learn skills, and create what they imagined.
As a result, my part in this conversation, and creativity’s part in the wider conversation, was embraced.
I’m so glad I said yes.
When was a time when you were glad you said yes?