I won’t be quiet!

Our voices need to be heard,
Now more than ever

Some people hear that and think I should sit quietly in my chair, let the world pass me by, and be grateful for the time I’ve been given.

But I’ll tell you the truth: I have lived through wars, depressions, civil rights marches, heartbreaks, and miracles. And if there’s one thing all these years have taught me, it’s this silence never changed anything.

Now more than ever,
seniors like me must speak up.

We have seen what happens when people stay quiet. We know what it costs when communities ignore injustice or look away from neglect. We carry the memories of times when our voices weren’t always heard such as women who couldn’t vote, workers without protections, families scraping by without support. Speaking up changed all of that. And speaking up is still the only way forward.

These days, too many of my friends are told they’re “too old” to matter.

Our worries about unsafe housing, broken healthcare systems, or shrinking pensions are brushed aside as complaints from people whose best days are behind them. But I know my voice has power and so does yours. When I tell my story, when I name what’s wrong, when I demand something better, people listen. Sometimes not at first. But eventually, they listen.

I want the world my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren inherit to be kinder, safer, and more just. That won’t happen if those of us with a lifetime of perspective keep our mouths shut. We owe it to ourselves, and to those who come after us, to speak. Loudly. Persistently. Even if our voices shake.

So please, don’t dismiss the voice of an senior woman. Don’t dismiss the voices of seniors in your life. We carry wisdom, yes, but we also carry urgency. Because at our age, we know just how short the time is to make things right.

If you are a senior reading this, remember: you are not invisible. You are not powerless. You are living proof of resilience, and the world still needs your courage. And if you are younger, I ask you don’t just listen to us. Stand beside us. Help amplify our voices until the world can’t ignore us.

At my age, I have nothing left to lose by speaking the truth. But we all have everything to gain.