I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit. —Dawna Markova
Sometimes we make mistakes and when we do we need to sincerely say we are sorry to those we have injured. But too many times we apologize for being fully human- for bathing in the sunlight.
Do not apologize
Do not apologize for being passionate. Do not apologize for your creativity, your voice, your big idea or your rich conversations. For knocking on every door – real or virtual along your way. For talking to anyone willing to listen. For investing in yourself so you can do good, better. Do not apologize for telling your stories in your language, for trying something new, for repairing and healing the world.
Do not apologize
Do not apologize for being a trailblazer, a practical visionary a sage and a radical. For being an explorer, an adventurer and a journeyman. For seeing potential and beauty in every place, in every community. Do not apologize for valuing people over things, experiences over stuff and knowledge over materialism.
Do not apologize
Not today, not tomorrow, not ever, for loving and caring about children. Do not apologize for caring about education or clean water in poor communities. For feeding the hungry or sheltering the homeless. Do not apologize for supporting and nurturing people who look like you. Do not apologize for supporting and nurturing people who do not look like you. Do not apologize for loving each other.
For loving yourself
Do not apologize because you love what you do. Because you don’t love what you do. Because systems need to be changed and you have taken on that task. Do not apologize because you believe that all humans deserve (in the words of Audrey Hepburn) to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Do not apologize for never throwing out anyone. Do not apologize for being unreasonable.
Do not apologize because you tried something that didn’t go exactly the way you thought – you learned much. Do not apologize for letting your light shine – you showed others how to shine. Not for saying no. Not for saying yes. Do not apologize for refusing to dumb it down. Do not apologize for raising the bar.
For changing the game
Do not apologize for being purpose driven. Do not apologize for your vision. Do not apologize for your leadership. Do not apologize for organizing. Do not apologize for being a catalyst. Do not apologize for creating a movement.
Do not apologize for being a revolutionary, a radical, a creative, a teacher. For being guided by your values. Do not apologize because you are not angry or fearful. For trusting.
Do not apologize for your dreams
Do not apologize for participating. For creating a safe place. For being vulnerable. Do not apologize for opening your heart and sharing your soul.
Not for your laughter. Not for your tears.
Do not apologize for your power. Do not apologize for your strength. Do not apologize for being empowered. Do not apologize for empowering others.
Do not apologize
Not ever…
Live a life that reflects your spirit- where decisions are made responsibly without intentionally hurting others. Embrace it all. Receive it all. Accept it all. Stand firm in what you know to be true. Give less power to what other’s think. Ignore self-criticism. Do not live in fear of catching fire. Do not minimize your existence.
Bathe in the sunlight. It is where you belong.
Absolutely beautiful and so pertinent! Congrats on your 100th post and best wishes for many more -
So happy it spoke to you and you found it relevant. Thanks for your continued support!
thank you. After launching yesterday, I’ve spent the last 24 hours a little “holy shit did i just declare I want to help save the world??? how naive is that?” Then i said something to myself like this – so grateful to read this today!
Happy to be the medium to share this important message with you. You are not saving the world alone. It will take individuals stepping up to help. It is nothing wrong with helping to save and repair the world– I have done it for over 25 years. It is an honor.
Yes you did (write that) and yes I read it, loved that too.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ariane Hunter, karen yaeger and desireeadaway, desireeadaway. desireeadaway said: My 100th blog post is pretty personal. Do Not Apologize. http://t.co/nPnmd8M [...]
Love this and have duly added to your RT total. Thanks to Mark with the silver heart for leading me here.
Such a good reminder for me today as I’m trying not to beat myself up for a couple of mistakes I made.
That was phenomenal!
Reminds me of a great recent TED talk from Jacqueline Novogratz, founder of the Acumen Fund: Inspiring a life of immersion.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jacqueline_novogratz_inspiring_a_life_of_immersion.html
I have seen that TED talk…… its a great one. I think we apologize a lot just for being ourselves and allowing the same for others.
Desiree, I just love this. Your words are so visual. So visceral. So beautiful.
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing a little piece of my world! I appreciate you so very much.
Thank you for this. At a time when I am struggling to continue to believe in myself, this couldn’t have been more perfect.
Like I said in the post: Do not apologize for opening your heart and sharing your soul.
Never regret that, because you have something to offer the world. You are not accidental.
Desiree I am printing this out and posting it above my desk. Though I’ve grown, I still apologize too much. And I’m done. What a fantastic reminder of Who We Are.
We are always growing and will continue to evolve…be gentle with yourself, but do not apologize. Step into that sunlight
So stunningly beautiful, Desiree. You know how I feel about living unabashedly!
Love, J
So glad you liked it . Thanks for sharing your wisdom and inspiring me.
thank you for your share a great thoughtful piece to start all our days ;o) XXXX Happy 100th xxx
Glad it started your day off in a positive though provoking manner.
Meet you right back here for number 200, ok?
All that you presented in this post resonated with me. Thank you for your insights and your passion!
So , so happy you liked it and connected with the spirit. We all should step into the sun light.
Desiree
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything (and I read a LOT of inspirational, motivational, etc. material) that so beautifully said what so many of us need to read/hear and reread/hear.
We have to give ourselves permission to BE and this eloquent reminder covers all the bases in a way that is moving, memorable and freeing.
I’ve forwarded this link to many and I thank the marvelous Jennifer Louden for including this link in her newsletter. (Thank you, Jen!)
Thank you! Personally, this reminder of bathing in the sunglight could not have come at a better time. Of course, we know that what we need comes “in time.”
Thanks so very much. I am glad it resonated and the message came through me to you in a way that was both heard and felt. I want us all to be free and have authority over defining ourselves.
You’re amazing. So happy I found your blog.
This is exactly what I needed to hear today and years ago. A lot to digest though… I’ll be reading this post MANY times.
I am so happy we found each other! Thanks for checking out my little piece of the world and for allowing it to touch you .
This is so true we are the light of the world after reading this some thing got a hold of me and I had to stand keep the good work going we all need this apology some times lie to you when it’s not true
Holy smokes, I cannot believe the serendipity of this post. I recently raised my voice at work out of frustration. I could no longer handle the struggle to maintain cordiality in the midst of extreme inefficiency and in the absence of standards. Ultimately, I upset the fragile equilibrium of this corporate terrarium by speaking up, by having had enough of pandering to the lazy and incooperative. I actually freaked them out! The world has turned into romper room for the ineffective, where we’re supposed to respect their “inability” to contribute, when really they’re just manipulating us all with their own laziness. And, after taking seriously my education and my career all these years, I’m supposed to apologize because I upset their bowl of mush? I don’t think I’ll do that. No, sir.
So glad this post came at exactly the right time. As long as we speak our truth to power with compassion and honesty. As long as we can be gentle with others and ourselves then do not apologize. Your path is not meant to be understood by everyone.
Thank you. And a holy amen.
Thanks you. part of changing the world is changing how we perceive ourselves.
Wow! WOW! You can’t even know how perfectly timed this is. Thank you! wow! Seriously. Wow. I will include it this week in my “Things I Loved” post. Thank you! Wow!
So glad the timing was right for you and that it touched you in a meaningful way.
Holy COW! This is amazing. I will never apologize again for my stand. Thank you for the light you bring. I won’t get over this post.
Amazing!
Thank you for the light you bring and for shring your magic with us all. Much appreciation for your kind words and thoughts on my post.
That was fabulous, thank you for sharing that with us! You’re right, too many of us apologize way too often… ok, I know I do… and I don’t really like that side of me. I’m going to try very hard to limit my “automatic” apologies today and live an authentic life. Thank you for some wonderful reminders on how to be authentic.
So very happy you enjoyed it. When you want to apologize take a deep cleansing breath..and ask your sorry if you have anything to apologize for? If the answer is no– keep going !
What a brilliant article! Thanks a mil. I needed to read this. I will remember to feel comfortable always with my choices and decisions.
Welcome to my small piece of the internet world. Glad you like the post . Here is wishing that we all can just BE with choices fully. That’s my plan moving forward.
Thanks for this post. I think as an especially creative person, we do apologize a lot for just being us. It’s so refreshing when you feel that you’re not alone.
Lets make a promise right now to not apologize for living our lives in ways that work for us…lets not apologize for loving in ways that we feel are nurturing and lets never apologize for living and speaking our truth.
[...] several times, getting inspired and a fire-in-the-belly feeling every time. Desiree Adaway’s Do Not Apologize is one of those articles. She writes, “Give less power to what others think. Ignore [...]
So beautiful. How lucky am I that Stacey Monk shared this (and you) with me! Loved it!!!
Shelly,
So glad that it resonated. I know that you see the value in taking a stand. Glad to be connected and building community with you.
[...] Adaway says it better than I do, go here and read it…you’ll thank me, I promise. Did you like this? Share it:Tweet This entry was [...]
Thank you so much. My heart/spirit really needed all of this today.
So happy it found its way to you right when you needed it
[...] fabulous wisdom from Desiree Adaway, no further comment needed from here…just go and read this post! Did you like this? Share it:Tweet This entry was posted in Friday Favourites, Self care, Wisdom [...]
[...] My daughter (she’s 16) inspires me – she’s doesn’t bend to peer pressure. Amazing. Desiree Adaway is a new friend who inspires me. Jody Williams who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work on [...]