Language Barrier
An ode to creatives who struggle to be seen
A piece I wrote July 20th, 2017. Lightly edited for clarity.
It’s very lonely being around language barriers. Lazy language barriers.
Unsupportive language barriers.
Language barriers where I joyously express how happy my personal success
makes me, only to be met with genuine underwhelm.
Language barriers where what I am celebrating at the moment leaves the listener either confused, condescending, shutting me down, or ignoring me completely.
Of course, I can speak MY native tongue. One filled with words of encouragement and support for those who aren’t heading down a traditional path in life.
For those who are so excited to find happiness somewhere else.
I’m still proud of myself. I’m still celebrating how far I’ve gotten in my journey to become a writer and content creator that works remotely.
But that language barrier... The silent responses to your excitement from loved ones who don’t understand a thing you’re saying.
The sense they can make of what you say only leads to rebuttals. How your progressive win didn’t equal income.
How the new income you’ve made BY YOUR OWN WORK isn’t anything to sneeze at.
Then if their words decide to come flooding back, they’re sharp and tinged with comparison and definitions of what true success means.
Of how what you’re proud of holds no value in their narrowed (minded) eyes.
It’s of no importance. No priority.
So it doesn’t translate. Falls on dead ears.
And it’s an unfortunate feeling. Sharing something precious you’ve created, only to have it shattered.
Over and over.
By a listener who refuses to hear.
Thank you so much for reading! Even though my newsletter explores my feelings and discoveries since losing my mom, I feel a little self-conscious about how sad and gloomy my mid-week pieces tend to be.
Until something else arises in me, I’ll try to add more pieces from my past so you’re not bombarded by so many pieces that are dead mom reflections.
Cierra - I love "Language Barrier" as a way to describe this. My experience with my family is similar to yours. I'm 62 and the youngest of 9 children. There is a 20-year age difference between my oldest sister and me. It's tough being the youngest or the lowest on the totem pole when it comes to family dynamics. Oftentimes my siblings don't take me seriously. I take myself seriously anyway. Sounds like you're responding the same way in your dynamics. Bravo for not allowing it to make you become a barrier to yourself.