The last couple of days, I've been in pain.

I've been grumpy. I haven't always been so nice. And for the moments when my frustration landed on somebody else, I apologize.

But there are some things I will never apologize for.

I will never apologize for knowing my worth.

I will never apologize for using my voice.

I will never apologize for having emotions or for letting people know when I am frustrated, hurt, angry, exhausted, or simply overwhelmed.

What I am learning is that I cannot let only one person hear those frustrations.

I have a voice. I have a platform. I have a story.

And maybe somebody needs to hear the truth instead of the cleaned-up version.

I am establishing myself in a new turn in my life. Some days, it feels good.

Other days?

Not so good.

Sometimes I don't want to cry.

But sometimes I need to.

Sometimes I want to yell at the world because it seems so damn unfair.

Why this?

Why again?

Why does everything have to be a fight?

But then I remember: this is my path.

I don't have to like every part of it to keep walking it.

And I'm tired of saying I'm tired.

But tired I am.

There. I said it.

I am tired.

And I'm still here.

That's what I want you to understand.

As long as you can move something, move it.

If you can get your voice out, use it.

If you can ask for help, ask.

If you need to cry, cry.

If today all you can manage is getting yourself from one side of the room to the other, then get there however you have to get there.

Because one day, the story you're struggling to survive right now may become the story that helps somebody else survive.

Don't be afraid to join this movement.

Our voices matter.

Our experiences matter.

We matter just because.

Not because of our degrees.

Not because of our jobs.

Not because we're inspirational.

Not because we survived something horrible.

Not because somebody else decided we were worthy.

We matter because we are here.

But you've got to get up.

Whatever getting up looks like for you.

For me?

Sometimes it takes a cane and a husband.

It takes a vision and The Most High.

Sometimes it takes tears.

Sometimes it takes anger.

Sometimes it takes saying, I cannot do this by myself.

And sometimes it takes looking at everything standing in front of me and deciding:

I'm getting up anyway.

I don't know exactly what this next turn in my life is going to look like.

But I know I'm taking it.

And if you're struggling through your own turn right now, come on.

Bring your cane.

Bring your tears.

Bring your anger.

Bring your fear.

Bring your faith.

Bring whatever you've got left.

Just bring yourself.

Because you matter.

Your experience matters.

Your voice matters.

And there is still something ahead of us.

Let's go.

— Kelli Frederick, M.A. Founder & CEO, Empowerment Coaching Global LLC

LIVE. DON'T JUST EXIST.