soft spoken

I was twenty minutes into conducting a virtual teams training at work, when someone popped a comment in the chat. "Lisa has one of those voices that is great for reading bedtime stories."  I burst into a laugh. 

Yep, I have one of those soft-spoken voices described as calming, soothing, one that could lull a baby to sleep.  It appears to be an inherited Wright/Cooper family trait.  My father, Roger Wright, was soft spoken, although when he was upset it increased in volume.  He also had a nice singing voice. In his later years, after being diagnosed with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, Dad received speech therapy to learn to project his voice beyond a whisper.  My grandmother, Venla Cooper Wirght, was soft-spoken.  She was also fiercely independent, so you knew when she meant business. In her later years, her voice into whispers.  It seems physiological, and I can imagine if we were all evaluated together there would likely be commonality in the structure of our larynx, diaphragm, and lung capacity.  It may also have affected our eating preferences, and swallowing, especially after turning 60.  It is not so alarming that I have a swallowing evaluation coming up as part of my medical work-up.

Anyway.  the truthful recognition in the chat comment, caught me off guard, and made me laugh. It reminds me of a conversation in the office at work the day I was diagnosed with Horner syndrome.  "Did you know that your pupils are different sizes? I think you may want to see a doctor."  "Funny that you should mention that. I just did."  Some people just say it how they see it, or as they "hear it".

Giving a "shout out" to soft spoken voices.  May they continue to be heard and recognized!! It has been said: "if you want to get someone's attention - Whisper".