NEW:

“I’ve had enough…I’m refusing to back down.”

Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier speaks to MSNBC from the Texas State Capitol. She is stuck there after the Texas GOP required police surveillance as condition for release. She is refusing to sign a waiver for the law enforcement escort.

[image or embed]

— MSNBC (@msnbc.com) August 18, 2025 at 9:01 PM

“The human spirit will not invest itself in a compromise.” ~ Robert Fritz

I hear a new voice rising inside me now. My soul’s voice.

It says: “You don’t need anyone’s permission to be yourself. Not now. Not ever.”

Yet, all around us, a different voice grows louder. The voice of fear, intimidation, and control. The voice of rising fascism.

Its message is blunt:

Sell your soul. Don’t be you. Be what we tell you to be—or you don’t belong here.

Some days, I want to deny that fascism could really take root in “America—the land of the free and the brave.”

Other days, I know deep down that it’s already happening.

What’s happening is more than politics. It’s a spiritual assault and a war against our souls.

My Soul’s Voice Is Not for Sale

Old habits still whisper to me: Blend in. Stay quiet. Don’t rock the boat.

But something stronger is rising. My soul’s voice. And my soul’s voice is not negotiable.

Yes, I still have days when I long to shrink back, hoping the storm will pass without demanding my courage.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

>> Every time I hide my truth, I lose a piece of myself.

>> Every time I speak my truth—even if my voice shakes—I come home again to who I really am.

That’s the choice before all of us now: Disappear into silence or live our truth out loud.

Authenticity as Resistance

Because we’re breathing in a toxic atmosphere that insists on conformity, compliance, and obedience, even staying kind, tender, and empathic becomes an act of rebellion.

>> When cruelty rises, love rises higher.

>> When fear spreads, compassion speaks louder.

>> When truth is shoved into the shadows, we carry it into the light.

Our courage matters, not only for us, but for the children we love and for the world they will inherit.

Every time we stand in truth, we send out a signal to others: You are not alone. You can do it too.

A Modern Example of Courage of the Soul

Courage is alive in real time. On August 19, 2025, The Washington Post reported that Texas State Representative Nicole Collier was told that she could not leave the House chamber unless she signed a form granting that someone from the Texas State Department of Public Safety could track her every move twenty-four hours a day.

Her response was simple and fierce: “Hell, no.”

Instead of surrendering, she slept overnight in the chamber itself, refusing to sign away her dignity or her soul.

Collier later said: “I refuse to sign away my dignity as a duly elected representative just so Republicans can control my movements and monitor me with police escorts.”

Her act of defiance was not just political. It was soulful. It was the living embodiment of a truth we all need to remember.

Our soul is not for sale.

Her courage leaves us with a question that lingers long after the headlines fade: Would I be this brave? Would you?

Soul Practices for Inhuman Times

Here are some of the practices that prepare me for courageous moments and keep me grounded, human, and alive. Maybe there are seeds in here that will help you, too.

>> Micro-doses of truth. I share my boundaries, feelings, and preferences even when it’s uncomfortable. Each truth strengthens my spirit.

>> Pause before saying “yes.” I ask myself: Am I agreeing because it’s true for me, or because I fear rejection?

>> Anchor in joy. Laughter, music, creativity, and the smile of a child—I invite all of it into my life. Joy doesn’t just feel good; it keeps me alive inside.

>> Practice full presence. I listen with an open heart and look for common ground. Sometimes understanding someone is more revolutionary than agreement.

>> Nature as medicine. I heal myself through my reverence of the sunrise and sunset and the endless beauty of the sky, ocean, mountains, and the songs of birds.

>> Everyday kindness. I create tiny sparks of humanity in a world trying to dim my light.

>> Gratitude and curiosity. Both gratitude and curiosity open my heart and return me to a place of wonder and awe.

>> Never give up. Hope itself is a form of resistance. I never give up hope.

Every act of love, truth, and courage plants a seed in soil that desperately needs new life.

Why These Practices Matter

These aren’t just self-care tips. They are survival skills. Every truth spoken gently, every kindness extended, and every refusal to let hatred be the last word—all of it is saying: The world cannot take my essence unless I hand it over.

And here’s the miracle, too. When you and I live from our soul, other people feel the permission to live from their soul, too.

Courage multiplies. Light echoes. This isn’t just about surviving. It’s about remembering who we are together.

Coming Home to Your Soul

Each morning, I pause, breathe, and ask: What part of me needs care today?

I listen to my soul.
I trust my intuition.
I honor my conscience.

Fear still whispers: Stay quiet. Don’t risk it.

My soul whispers louder: Stand tall. Be brave. Offer love. Stay whole.

And I choose to listen to my soul.

A Call to Courage

The times we are living through are not ordinary. They ask for extraordinary courage, love, radical authenticity, and a fierce commitment to remain human.

History is watching. The children are watching. Your soul is watching.

And so, I ask you:

Will you choose fear—or love?

Will you shrink back—or stand tall with courage?

Will you sell pieces of your soul for approval—or protect it like the sacred treasure it is?

We don’t need perfection. We only need the courage to keep showing up flawed, tender, and human and continue to carry light into the shadows.

Let your kindness be louder than cruelty.

Let your truth shine brighter than lies.

Let your soul remain unshaken, unbought, and fully alive.

Because when we choose to live from our soul—like Nicole Collier is doing—we give others the unspoken blessing to do the same.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

~

Vice President Kamala Harris phoned Rep. Nicole Collier, who has refused for over 30 hours to bow to the GOP’s police-state tactics on the TX House floor.

Harris told her: “History will reveal you as heroes of this moment.”

Texas is the front line. The nation is watching.

#WeveHadEnough

[image or embed]

— Jennifer ✨Get In Good Trouble (@thejenniwren.teamlh.social) August 19, 2025 at 7:00 PM