One of the hardest things about being a young caregiver is I often feel that my voice is not weighted the same as it would if I were older. I am not taken as seriously despite the fact I have 10 years of dealing with dementia.

There have been times during my advocacy journey when I have reached out to an organization to volunteer or join their board of directors and have been turned away. I found this was particularly the case when I tried to offer my voice, experiences and suggestions to large organizations or the government. That is one of the many reasons for this blog.

This happened to me again recently and I had forgotten what it felt like. It kinda knocks the wind out of your sails and makes you want to give up or not speak out. 

But after receiving an email from someone who heard my story and was touched by it, it renewed my determination to keep fighting any obstacles that will inevitably come my way.

Anytime a person speaks out or goes against the grain, they are bound to be met by opposition. However, there is nothing and no one that could stop me from channeling my experiences into effective advocacy efforts.

Here is a quote that I came across today I found really meaningful and poignant:

Never stay silent!