you have no idea how afraid I am right now I’m not sure if I should laugh or
now I’m not sure if I should laugh or
now I’m not sure if I should laugh or cry with this this hysteria inside of me
cry with this this hysteria inside of me
cry with this this hysteria inside of me I don’t know who’s crazier me to stand
I don’t know who’s crazier me to stand
I don’t know who’s crazier me to stand on the stage or the women who decide to
on the stage or the women who decide to
on the stage or the women who decide to put me here to tell you all to live
put me here to tell you all to live
put me here to tell you all to live fearlessly I’m afraid and it’s a good
fearlessly I’m afraid and it’s a good
fearlessly I’m afraid and it’s a good thing because fear is my power I’m going
thing because fear is my power I’m going
thing because fear is my power I’m going to stand here and tell you stories of
to stand here and tell you stories of
to stand here and tell you stories of fearless women women that deserve to be
fearless women women that deserve to be
fearless women women that deserve to be heard I’m afraid and to be brutally
heard I’m afraid and to be brutally
heard I’m afraid and to be brutally honest with you I’m afraid of babbling
honest with you I’m afraid of babbling
honest with you I’m afraid of babbling on like a foolish idiot or being a
on like a foolish idiot or being a
on like a foolish idiot or being a failure a failure at finally giving
failure a failure at finally giving
failure a failure at finally giving these women the time they deserve to be
these women the time they deserve to be
these women the time they deserve to be heard so I’m gonna do this I’m gonna do
heard so I’m gonna do this I’m gonna do
heard so I’m gonna do this I’m gonna do this I’m gonna stand here and I’m gonna
this I’m gonna stand here and I’m gonna
this I’m gonna stand here and I’m gonna do this because it’s worth it
do this because it’s worth it
do this because it’s worth it it’s worth it it’s worth hearing these
it’s worth it it’s worth hearing these
it’s worth it it’s worth hearing these women’s stories it’s worth it as a
women’s stories it’s worth it as a
women’s stories it’s worth it as a photographer to finally share these
photographer to finally share these
photographer to finally share these stories of fearless women it’s worth
stories of fearless women it’s worth
stories of fearless women it’s worth exposing all this vulnerability to
exposing all this vulnerability to
exposing all this vulnerability to finally give these women a voice a voice
finally give these women a voice a voice
finally give these women a voice a voice to women who are often overlooked or
to women who are often overlooked or
to women who are often overlooked or ignored their stories are full poverty
ignored their stories are full poverty
ignored their stories are full poverty heartbreak oppression yet their stories
heartbreak oppression yet their stories
heartbreak oppression yet their stories are full of resilience courage and
are full of resilience courage and
are full of resilience courage and visions these women deserve to be heard
visions these women deserve to be heard
visions these women deserve to be heard their stories matter
their stories matter
their stories matter they matter to me they shouldn’t matter
they matter to me they shouldn’t matter
they matter to me they shouldn’t matter to you their stories resonate with me
to you their stories resonate with me
to you their stories resonate with me because they’re familiar by looking at
because they’re familiar by looking at
because they’re familiar by looking at my family photos you might think I had
my family photos you might think I had
my family photos you might think I had an easy childhood if you know me you
an easy childhood if you know me you
an easy childhood if you know me you know I’m a perfect balance of these
know I’m a perfect balance of these
know I’m a perfect balance of these amazing parents if you know me you know
amazing parents if you know me you know
amazing parents if you know me you know my childhood wasn’t easy early memories
my childhood wasn’t easy early memories
my childhood wasn’t easy early memories of poverty
of poverty
of poverty rescuing furniture from the dump for our
rescuing furniture from the dump for our
rescuing furniture from the dump for our trailer my mother’s and genius popcorn
trailer my mother’s and genius popcorn
trailer my mother’s and genius popcorn parties for dinner and the substance
parties for dinner and the substance
parties for dinner and the substance abuse the anger the fear trust me I’ve
abuse the anger the fear trust me I’ve
abuse the anger the fear trust me I’ve been there I know what it feels like to
been there I know what it feels like to
been there I know what it feels like to want a different life so badly I know
want a different life so badly I know
want a different life so badly I know what it feels like to be judged and
what it feels like to be judged and
what it feels like to be judged and ignored yet I know about resilience and
ignored yet I know about resilience and
ignored yet I know about resilience and determination and working hard for what
determination and working hard for what
determination and working hard for what I want damn it I know what it feels like
I want damn it I know what it feels like
I want damn it I know what it feels like to work hard for what I want and I’ve
to work hard for what I want and I’ve
to work hard for what I want and I’ve never wanted anything more than to be an
never wanted anything more than to be an
never wanted anything more than to be an artist
artist
artist a photographer and fear has always stood
a photographer and fear has always stood
a photographer and fear has always stood in my way so much sometimes it stood
in my way so much sometimes it stood
in my way so much sometimes it stood next to me and would say things like
next to me and would say things like
next to me and would say things like you’re worthless you should be ashamed
you’re worthless you should be ashamed
you’re worthless you should be ashamed of yourself for wanting something more
of yourself for wanting something more
of yourself for wanting something more you’re not special her life isn’t a
you’re not special her life isn’t a
you’re not special her life isn’t a movie grow up I got so fed up to
movie grow up I got so fed up to
movie grow up I got so fed up to listening to those fears every day I
listening to those fears every day I
listening to those fears every day I didn’t act my dream was going further
didn’t act my dream was going further
didn’t act my dream was going further into the distance off into the horizon I
into the distance off into the horizon I
into the distance off into the horizon I got fed up I was gonna catch it so I
got fed up I was gonna catch it so I
got fed up I was gonna catch it so I grabbed my camera gear jumped on a
grabbed my camera gear jumped on a
grabbed my camera gear jumped on a bicycle and rode all around Asia
bicycle and rode all around Asia
bicycle and rode all around Asia everywhere photographing everything
everywhere photographing everything
everywhere photographing everything everyone fear was my catalyst to act
everyone fear was my catalyst to act
everyone fear was my catalyst to act little did I expect
little did I expect
little did I expect that little trailer park girl would be
that little trailer park girl would be
that little trailer park girl would be led from China to Mongolia Tibet
led from China to Mongolia Tibet
led from China to Mongolia Tibet Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Tajikistan Southeast Asia Bangladesh
Tajikistan Southeast Asia Bangladesh
Tajikistan Southeast Asia Bangladesh little did I expect that that scared
little did I expect that that scared
little did I expect that that scared little girl would be pulled into homes
little girl would be pulled into homes
little girl would be pulled into homes of complete strangers little did I
of complete strangers little did I
of complete strangers little did I expect that all our stories could be so
expect that all our stories could be so
expect that all our stories could be so similar
take for instance what I learned in
take for instance what I learned in Bangladesh what is the fear that’s
Bangladesh what is the fear that’s
Bangladesh what is the fear that’s stopping you from speaking out do you
stopping you from speaking out do you
stopping you from speaking out do you remember the Rana Plaza collapse of
remember the Rana Plaza collapse of
remember the Rana Plaza collapse of Bangladesh the official death toll is
Bangladesh the official death toll is
Bangladesh the official death toll is 1129 that’s approximately half of the
1129 that’s approximately half of the
1129 that’s approximately half of the World Trade Center disaster from 9/11
World Trade Center disaster from 9/11
World Trade Center disaster from 9/11 the locals will tell you it’s closer to
the locals will tell you it’s closer to
the locals will tell you it’s closer to 3,000 I met Ruth Shannon Bangladesh her
3,000 I met Ruth Shannon Bangladesh her
3,000 I met Ruth Shannon Bangladesh her and her family live about a 15-minute
and her family live about a 15-minute
and her family live about a 15-minute walk from the disaster site through
walk from the disaster site through
walk from the disaster site through stanza survivor three years later she
stanza survivor three years later she
stanza survivor three years later she still works from home because of trauma
still works from home because of trauma
still works from home because of trauma and injuries from that day I watch
and injuries from that day I watch
and injuries from that day I watch Rosanna the weight of shame on her
Rosanna the weight of shame on her
Rosanna the weight of shame on her shoulders because her family continues
shoulders because her family continues
shoulders because her family continues to struggle she tells me with tears
to struggle she tells me with tears
to struggle she tells me with tears filling in her eyes that no one
filling in her eyes that no one
filling in her eyes that no one understands the flame inside of her that
understands the flame inside of her that
understands the flame inside of her that wants to speak out
she stifles that fire out of fear and
she stifles that fire out of fear and her community tells her to remain quiet
her community tells her to remain quiet
her community tells her to remain quiet i watch her shan cut and sew in that
i watch her shan cut and sew in that
i watch her shan cut and sew in that grey cold concrete block room the
grey cold concrete block room the
grey cold concrete block room the humming of the sewing machine the stacks
humming of the sewing machine the stacks
humming of the sewing machine the stacks of fabric lighting up the room with
of fabric lighting up the room with
of fabric lighting up the room with those vibrant colors the room empties
those vibrant colors the room empties
those vibrant colors the room empties and the only person that’s left is ruch
and the only person that’s left is ruch
and the only person that’s left is ruch Ann’s daughter a 15 year old that now
Ann’s daughter a 15 year old that now
Ann’s daughter a 15 year old that now works garment industry
works garment industry
works garment industry she pulls the blanket down from her face
she pulls the blanket down from her face
she pulls the blanket down from her face covering the chickenpox and looks at me
covering the chickenpox and looks at me
covering the chickenpox and looks at me and says please help me my life is
and says please help me my life is
and says please help me my life is horrible I can’t ignore her
horrible I can’t ignore her
horrible I can’t ignore her I don’t ignore her ruch Anne’s 15 year
I don’t ignore her ruch Anne’s 15 year
I don’t ignore her ruch Anne’s 15 year old daughter had the courage to speak
old daughter had the courage to speak
old daughter had the courage to speak out by her speaking out lit that fire
out by her speaking out lit that fire
out by her speaking out lit that fire inside of me to use my voice by getting
inside of me to use my voice by getting
inside of me to use my voice by getting over this fear of using this voice I’m
over this fear of using this voice I’m
over this fear of using this voice I’m bringing awareness to women’s labor
bringing awareness to women’s labor
bringing awareness to women’s labor issues this voice might have a positive
issues this voice might have a positive
issues this voice might have a positive impact on the world what could you do if
impact on the world what could you do if
impact on the world what could you do if you had the courage to use your voice
you had the courage to use your voice
you had the courage to use your voice could your voice be your power now let’s
could your voice be your power now let’s
could your voice be your power now let’s move to Shing Jeong what is this is a
move to Shing Jeong what is this is a
move to Shing Jeong what is this is a fear that’s stopping you from being
fear that’s stopping you from being
fear that’s stopping you from being genuine
genuine
genuine I know families who faced daily
I know families who faced daily
I know families who faced daily judgement for everything their clothes
judgement for everything their clothes
judgement for everything their clothes their food their language their culture
their food their language their culture
their food their language their culture religion economic education status their
religion economic education status their
religion economic education status their bloodline why because their weigert a
bloodline why because their weigert a
bloodline why because their weigert a Muslim minority of China they face daily
Muslim minority of China they face daily
Muslim minority of China they face daily judgement for everything I’ve been so
judgement for everything I’ve been so
judgement for everything I’ve been so fortunate over the last five years to
fortunate over the last five years to
fortunate over the last five years to spend months with these families I’ve
spend months with these families I’ve
spend months with these families I’ve seen the power of love courage tolerance
seen the power of love courage tolerance
seen the power of love courage tolerance hospitality at a level that I’ve never
hospitality at a level that I’ve never
hospitality at a level that I’ve never seen and self proclaimed tolerant
seen and self proclaimed tolerant
seen and self proclaimed tolerant societies I’ve experienced these people
societies I’ve experienced these people
societies I’ve experienced these people face daily judgement for everything yet
face daily judgement for everything yet
face daily judgement for everything yet they continue to be true to who they are
they continue to be true to who they are
they continue to be true to who they are one of the most memorable experiences
one of the most memorable experiences
one of the most memorable experiences the last night I spent with my closest
the last night I spent with my closest
the last night I spent with my closest weaker family res one ghoul and I walked
weaker family res one ghoul and I walked
weaker family res one ghoul and I walked through the catacombs of the mud packed
through the catacombs of the mud packed
through the catacombs of the mud packed homes we climb up these old rickety
homes we climb up these old rickety
homes we climb up these old rickety wooden ladders to the rooftops we are
wooden ladders to the rooftops we are
wooden ladders to the rooftops we are going to pick the biggest rapist
going to pick the biggest rapist
going to pick the biggest rapist mulberries in the neighborhood the
mulberries in the neighborhood the
mulberries in the neighborhood the children are below planes sometimes
children are below planes sometimes
children are below planes sometimes calling up at us the Sun is setting the
calling up at us the Sun is setting the
calling up at us the Sun is setting the sand filled skies turn orange
sand filled skies turn orange
sand filled skies turn orange camouflaging the apricots and the other
camouflaging the apricots and the other
camouflaging the apricots and the other trees the man next to us is moving a
trees the man next to us is moving a
trees the man next to us is moving a stick in the air as if he’s conducting a
stick in the air as if he’s conducting a
stick in the air as if he’s conducting a symphony of pigeons birds free and
symphony of pigeons birds free and
symphony of pigeons birds free and flight before the Sun sets years ago you
flight before the Sun sets years ago you
flight before the Sun sets years ago you would have heard the call to prayer but
would have heard the call to prayer but
would have heard the call to prayer but now you no longer hear that song carried
now you no longer hear that song carried
now you no longer hear that song carried through the desert winds because that
through the desert winds because that
through the desert winds because that practice is illegal the only thing I
practice is illegal the only thing I
practice is illegal the only thing I hear are the children playing below the
hear are the children playing below the
hear are the children playing below the swooshing of the pigeons around us and
swooshing of the pigeons around us and
swooshing of the pigeons around us and iagoo res one-goal calls me by my Weger
iagoo res one-goal calls me by my Weger
iagoo res one-goal calls me by my Weger name and i follow her from roof to roof
name and i follow her from roof to roof
name and i follow her from roof to roof delicate dancing around the fallen
delicate dancing around the fallen
delicate dancing around the fallen berries we giggle talk about love life
berries we giggle talk about love life
berries we giggle talk about love life desires and we pick those berries and
desires and we pick those berries and
desires and we pick those berries and our fingertips begin to turn the same
our fingertips begin to turn the same
our fingertips begin to turn the same crimson red that now floods the sky I
crimson red that now floods the sky I
crimson red that now floods the sky I could live in this memory forever these
could live in this memory forever these
could live in this memory forever these families are what dreams are made of yet
families are what dreams are made of yet
families are what dreams are made of yet these people face daily judgment for
these people face daily judgment for
these people face daily judgment for everything yet they continue to be true
everything yet they continue to be true
everything yet they continue to be true to who they are what is the fear that’s
to who they are what is the fear that’s
to who they are what is the fear that’s stopping you from being true to yourself
would you prefer the respect
would you prefer the respect for your courage to be authentic or
for your courage to be authentic or
for your courage to be authentic or would you prefer to go through life
would you prefer to go through life
would you prefer to go through life unnoticed now let’s move to Tibet what
unnoticed now let’s move to Tibet what
unnoticed now let’s move to Tibet what is the fear that’s stopping you from
is the fear that’s stopping you from
is the fear that’s stopping you from loving a few years ago I’m walking
loving a few years ago I’m walking
loving a few years ago I’m walking through the mountains of Eastern Tibet
through the mountains of Eastern Tibet
through the mountains of Eastern Tibet and I meet Raina walking from nowhere to
and I meet Raina walking from nowhere to
and I meet Raina walking from nowhere to nowhere and that this particular nowhere
nowhere and that this particular nowhere
nowhere and that this particular nowhere this little old adorable Tibetan woman
this little old adorable Tibetan woman
this little old adorable Tibetan woman is sitting over in her crop fields
is sitting over in her crop fields
is sitting over in her crop fields waving over at me so I go sit down next
waving over at me so I go sit down next
waving over at me so I go sit down next to her and I’m greeted with the biggest
to her and I’m greeted with the biggest
to her and I’m greeted with the biggest near toothless smile I’ve ever seen and
near toothless smile I’ve ever seen and
near toothless smile I’ve ever seen and she shoves a great big bowl of Samba in
she shoves a great big bowl of Samba in
she shoves a great big bowl of Samba in my hands I refuse seconds laughing she
my hands I refuse seconds laughing she
my hands I refuse seconds laughing she only laughs harder a hail storm rolls in
only laughs harder a hail storm rolls in
only laughs harder a hail storm rolls in disrupting our little tea party and I
disrupting our little tea party and I
disrupting our little tea party and I have to go home with her for the night
immediately I’m accepted in this
immediately I’m accepted in this household of six Raina is the mother of
household of six Raina is the mother of
household of six Raina is the mother of seven children Raina names me desi named
seven children Raina names me desi named
seven children Raina names me desi named after her eldest deceased daughter I
after her eldest deceased daughter I
after her eldest deceased daughter I smile remain calm through those days as
smile remain calm through those days as
smile remain calm through those days as it’s spreading through this tiny village
it’s spreading through this tiny village
it’s spreading through this tiny village that desease returned
that desease returned
that desease returned Desi’s home I live with this family as a
Desi’s home I live with this family as a
Desi’s home I live with this family as a daughter and sister for days Raina
daughter and sister for days Raina
daughter and sister for days Raina doesn’t want me to leave and I don’t
doesn’t want me to leave and I don’t
doesn’t want me to leave and I don’t want to leave Raina worries about me and
want to leave Raina worries about me and
want to leave Raina worries about me and I worry about her her thin socks and
I worry about her her thin socks and
I worry about her her thin socks and those dull cooking knives in that broken
those dull cooking knives in that broken
those dull cooking knives in that broken window I would use my own knife to help
window I would use my own knife to help
window I would use my own knife to help prepare dinner I would share that cold
prepare dinner I would share that cold
prepare dinner I would share that cold back room with her and those dirty
back room with her and those dirty
back room with her and those dirty animal furs and I loved every single
animal furs and I loved every single
animal furs and I loved every single moment I
moment I
moment I it was her I stayed much longer than I
it was her I stayed much longer than I
it was her I stayed much longer than I had planned I didn’t want to say that
had planned I didn’t want to say that
had planned I didn’t want to say that goodbye so I finally got the courage to
goodbye so I finally got the courage to
goodbye so I finally got the courage to tell Rayna I had to leave she would help
tell Rayna I had to leave she would help
tell Rayna I had to leave she would help put me put on my backpack nearly the
put me put on my backpack nearly the
put me put on my backpack nearly the size of her and insist on walking me to
size of her and insist on walking me to
size of her and insist on walking me to the trail that would lead me through the
the trail that would lead me through the
the trail that would lead me through the mountains alone we walked down the hill
mountains alone we walked down the hill
mountains alone we walked down the hill and I watch her leaping over stones and
and I watch her leaping over stones and
and I watch her leaping over stones and creeks as if she’s weightless my little
creeks as if she’s weightless my little
creeks as if she’s weightless my little fairy godmother my chest begins to
fairy godmother my chest begins to
fairy godmother my chest begins to tighten my vision becomes blurry we get
tighten my vision becomes blurry we get
tighten my vision becomes blurry we get to that road and she turns around and we
to that road and she turns around and we
to that road and she turns around and we both have tears streaming off of our
both have tears streaming off of our
both have tears streaming off of our cheeks we embrace each other sobbing on
cheeks we embrace each other sobbing on
cheeks we embrace each other sobbing on one another’s shoulders feeling each
one another’s shoulders feeling each
one another’s shoulders feeling each other’s heart this intense human
other’s heart this intense human
other’s heart this intense human connection beyond words culture religion
sisterhood Rayna didn’t have to let me
sisterhood Rayna didn’t have to let me in that day she’d already lost a
in that day she’d already lost a
in that day she’d already lost a daughter and she was gonna lose another
daughter and she was gonna lose another
daughter and she was gonna lose another me Rayna taught me to love fearless Lee
me Rayna taught me to love fearless Lee
me Rayna taught me to love fearless Lee can you imagine what we could all feel
can you imagine what we could all feel
can you imagine what we could all feel if we weren’t afraid of getting hurt
what if we all loved recklessly
what if we all loved recklessly what could we become if we had the
what could we become if we had the
what could we become if we had the courage to be who we really are
courage to be who we really are
courage to be who we really are what kind of impact who we have on the
what kind of impact who we have on the
what kind of impact who we have on the world if we had the courage to speak out
world if we had the courage to speak out
world if we had the courage to speak out what is the fear that’s stopping you
fear is my power and I use it to put me
fear is my power and I use it to put me into action fear can be an empowering
into action fear can be an empowering
into action fear can be an empowering emotion
emotion
emotion fear can push you to live fearlessly I’m
fear can push you to live fearlessly I’m
fear can push you to live fearlessly I’m still afraid and it’s a great thing
still afraid and it’s a great thing
still afraid and it’s a great thing because fear is my power and this power
because fear is my power and this power
because fear is my power and this power makes me live fearlessly fear can be
makes me live fearlessly fear can be
makes me live fearlessly fear can be your power because fear is power
”
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