Rita Stevens shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Rita, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
The last time I felt true joy was looking into my son’s eyes. He has cortical vision impairment and not being able to make eye contact a common characteristic. Last week before putting him to bed, he just stared into my eyes.I have been waiting for that for 9 years.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Rita Stevens, Author of Unexpected Patterns of Purpose, Transformational Speaker, and Founder of Silent Voyces. My youngest son suffered from a traumatic brain injury and induced glaucoma leaving him with cerebral palsy and visual impairments. We struggled for years and continue to understand the daily commitment it takes to care for a child with special needs. We often felt silenced and honestly lost on the journey with little to no direction on next steps. This journey led a burning desire for me to share my experiences with other special needs families and help them bridge the gap between where they are and what resources they need to get to the next step on their journey. From this experience, I formed a nonprofit called Silent Voyces. Silent Voyces was designed with core pillars to help parents understand how to have a voice to advocate for their child. The Y in Voyces serves as a reminder to each parent that You have a voice and we are here to walk along side of you on this journey. My book Unexpected Patterns of Purpose serves as a reminder of where we have been but also as a teaching memoir to encourage others that unexpected “patterns” are truly designed to help you to unlock the doors to find your life’s purpose
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
In my early years, I truly lived. I found joy in the simple things and appreciated them fully. I chose what made me happy, and as a result, that joy often overflowed to others. I didn’t see limitations in what I could do or become—instead, I embraced change and made the most of every experience. I was eager to try new things, meet new people, and remain a student of life. I focused on what I did well rather than what I didn’t know, and life back then wasn’t shaped by fear or the opinions of others—it was simply about being fully present in the moment.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
For years I wrestled with the questions: Why me? Why now? I couldn’t understand why life with my youngest son was so different from what I had imagined. Those thoughts haunted me, shaping my decisions and keeping me stuck in fear, worry, and confusion. Yet deep down, I knew there had to be something greater connected to this experience—something rooted in service to others. That’s when I chose to create a nonprofit organization to support families like mine. I wanted to build a space that not only reminded them they are not alone, but also showed them how to walk this journey with grace. Silent Voyces became that reminder for me—that my pain carried both purpose and power. It has the power to shift how others see their own lives and to remind them that their voice, too, truly matters
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
The version of me you see in public is the real me. I genuinely love being around people and having conversations that spark transformation. No matter where I am, I strive to create authentic connections with everyone I meet. It matters to me that when someone speaks with me, they walk away feeling heard and understood. Being true to myself isn’t optional—it’s essential.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Hope begins within. The beautiful thing about it is that no one can give it to you—and no one can take it away. Hope is a choice you make, regardless of what you see or feel. It costs nothing to hope, but the absence of it can cost you everything. Never be afraid to hope for more, to dream for more, and to expect more. Let your hope be the quiet strength that fuels your drive and the hidden fire that gives you the motivation to rise and try again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unexpectedpatternsofpurpose.com; https://www.silentvoyces.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/theritastevens
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-stevens-6088b671/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ritaaverittestevens
- Youtube: @inspiredvoyces
