I don’t quite know where to begin today. I have been silent for so long. I have so many internal thoughts going in so many different directions that I don’t know what to say, where to start, or how to say it. But maybe this is just about saying the thing I am afraid of so that I can begin to take away its power over me. I want to be an ally and an advocate and I am afraid of causing more harm. I have this idea that if I am going to do anything I have to do it right but how do I know what is right? When it comes to ally work, I know that mistakes can cause hurt. I don’t want to cause hurt but more selfishly, I don’t want to receive the critique that I did something that caused the hurt. I know that silence hurts. I have been in a place where the silence of those around me stung. I wished someone, anyone, would speak up for me and my family. I want to have the courage to wade into these murky waters and speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. I want to have the courage to face my own mistakes with humility. I want to have the courage to try again and again, so that I can do better next time. I can start this work today.