June Reminded Me Why I Can't Stay Quiet Anymore

Kimberly Benoy
Jul 9
3 min read

There are months that simply fill your calendar. And then there are months that change you. June was one of those months for me.

For years, I've known I had something to say. Whether it was through nursing, my podcast, or conversations with women over coffee, I've always felt called to encourage women to stop doubting themselves and start trusting their own voices.

This month reminded me that speaking isn't just something I do.

It's part of who I am.

Two Stages. One Message.

In June I had the privilege of speaking at two incredible events. The first was Women Getting Visible in Minneapolis. I walked into a room filled with women who were showing up authentically, cheering one another on, and sharing their stories without competition or comparison. It was exactly the kind of room I hope to create wherever I go.

The second was Exhale, a beautiful event designed to give women space to simply breathe. Life moves so fast that we rarely stop long enough to notice ourselves. At Exhale, I talked about something that has become central to my work—the tiny word just.

It's such a small word and yet it carries so much weight.

"I just have a question."

"I'm just checking."

"I'm just a mom."

"I'm just trying."

Most of us say it without thinking. But every time we do, we're quietly shrinking ourselves.

That realization has become one of the biggest lessons I've learned this year.

Women Don't Need Fixing

One thing both events had in common was the women. When women come together in a space where they feel safe to be honest, something incredible happens.

Walls come down.

Stories are shared.

Someone realizes she isn't the only one who has been feeling this way.

Someone else hears exactly what she needed to hear.

I've said it before, and June confirmed it again:

When women gather, magic happens.

Not because someone on stage has all the answers. Because every woman in the room realizes she's not alone. That's where courage begins.

Growth Isn't Always Comfortable

Let me tell you something else though: June was also exhausting.

Between speaking engagements, networking, my podcast, and a work conference, I packed a lot into a short amount of time.

As much as I loved every opportunity, it reminded me that even exciting things require balance.

Growth is wonderful.

But growth also asks us to pay attention to our energy, protect our time, and give ourselves permission to rest.

I've spent enough years believing I had to say yes to everything.

Now I'm learning that courage also means knowing when to pause.

Why I'm Creating This Workshop

Every conversation I had in June pointed to the same truth.

Women are tired of making themselves smaller.

They second-guess what they want to say.

They apologize for taking up space.

They minimize their accomplishments.

They stay quiet when they wish they had spoken.

And they leave conversations replaying what they didn't say.

That's exactly why I created my It's Not J.U.S.T. You™ workshop.

Over four weeks, we'll learn to notice the ways we shrink ourselves, understand where those patterns came from, rewrite the stories we've been telling ourselves, and begin taking up space with confidence.

This isn't about becoming louder. It's about becoming more fully yourself.