It’s time to speak hope into each other’s lives.

I’m tired of turning on my TV or going online only to be rewarded with images of women everywhere screaming at me and at each other.

Their faces contort in anger and rage as they shout demands to join them in their quest. Consequently, the quest seems to be focused on hurting and silencing anyone who doesn’t agree with them.

Personally, I find it disturbing and threatening.

They don’t know me. As a result, it feels very personal. They’re trying to shut me up, judge me, and take away my freedom.

I haven’t said or done anything to them to warrant the attack. So what gives?

It’s large scale bullying filtered through news and entertainment then finding its way to the playgrounds of social media.

Bullying causes despair and takes away hope.

The whole scenario is weird! Women screaming to squash freedom after all the years of working so hard to get the freedoms we have? It doesn’t make sense.

I wonder how the majority of women across the country really feel. Certainly, what we are seeing, and being fed by the media, doesn’t reflect the opinions of the majority of women.

Do they have hope? Have they lost their hope? What gives them hope? Are they instilling hope in others?

Bullies love attention.

So what happens if you take the attention away from the bully and focus on what the bully is trying to take away from you?

What if women started discussing and sharing hope? What if women inspired hope in each other?

As creatives, we have the power to use our gifts to lift up and encourage each other. And we can make it fun and interesting in the process!

The more women who step up and spread hope creatively, the quicker the bullying will be squashed.

Women Speak Hope is a personal project I’m doing to allow women the opportunity to inspire and encourage each other with their thoughts and experiences of hope. To “speak hope,” if you will.

I’m photographing and interviewing women about what gives them hope and how they inspire hope in the people around them.

Women I know or meet who I find inspiring. I find them beautiful because of how they live their lives and how they treat others.

It’s my hope you will be inspired and encouraged by their stories and portraits as I share them with you.

This project is my own small way of using my creativity to take the attention away from the bullies.

I want to focus my camera lens on these extraordinary women and use my pen to share their stories.

They are not famous women. In fact, they may live next door or work with you. You may be one of these women!

These ordinary women become extraordinary because they lift up others. They help and encourage, often using their creative gifts to do it.

Join me in taking the focus off the bullies.

Let’s celebrate our freedom. Let’s inspire creativity and hope in each other.

What gives you hope? Are you using your creative gifts to speak hope in people around you? Is there something you can do to help others find hope? Share in the comments below.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Hebrews 10:23,24 NLT

You can find Women Speak Hope portraits and interviews by clicking on the Hope Project category.