by Brad Montague.
Brad Montague is an explorer, speaker, and music maker who currently resides in Henderson, TN. Love In Stereo’s latest project, One For The Team, benefits the kids at Special Needs Athletics in Jackson, TN. Purchase the album and more at http://loveinstereo.com/onefortheteam

When I was 11 years old I received a letter from Walt Disney Feature Animation.  I had sent them a cassette tape featuring me doing a variety of impressions, telling jokes and stories – all in the hopes that they would be so blown away by it they would fly me out to California immediately so I could be a voice actor in all of their movies. All of them.

The letter they sent in response was really very generous. My hands shook as I opened it for the first time. They told me thanks for the tape (because it was so awesome – I just knew it). They also told me they already had all the voice actors they need for now (for now… key word here is: for now) Here’s how they ended it:

“Thank you for sharing your voice. Keep at it.”

I carried that letter around for weeks. It was better than if they had actually sent me a plane ticket and given me a job. They sent me a letter (on official Walt Disney letterhead) and told me to keep sharing my voice. That’s a pretty beautiful task to give to a kid.

A couple years ago, my friends and I launched a project called Love In Stereo. We wanted to bring creative people together to collaborate on projects for good. Our rallying cry became “Together, we’re louder.” Whether it’s an album or an event our hope was, and always will be, to amplify good. When people combine their unique voices and do something that matters, well, that’s love… in stereo.

I’m assuming that since you’re reading this blog you are one of the many remarkable creative problem-solvers Plywood helps nurture. (If you aren’t and happen to be a selfish, meanie person with nothing but ill-intent please disregard the rest of this post.) To you dreamers, doers and world-shapers I say, “Thank you.” You are helping me discover more and more what it sounds like when loving voices of change rise up and share their voices. Sometimes you share joys, sometimes you share struggles, but always you share hope. I need to hear you. The world needs to hear you.

“Together, we’re louder” isn’t just a mantra for another non-profit startup. It’s a belief, and it’s a lifestyle.  Our days are full of noises that wish to distract us from the real soundtrack that is to be our lives. In the midst of the world’s noise it is important to remember we each have the ability to speak into it.

You have a voice. Your options are: add to the chaos or be a part of a symphony.

You are reminding me that there is a larger conversation and we all must be a part of it. You are erasing noise and adding joy and hope. You are amplifying love. You are part of a symphony. To all of you out there working today to bring about change:

Thank you for sharing your voice. Keep at it.

[Image courtesy of Michelle Marie Photography.]