Letter From The Editor - DUMMY

No matter who you are, starting something new can make you feel... dumb. In this article, editor Meabh Savage explores what that means for her, the new project that is TOO LOUD, and women in general.

"Embracing who I really am has not been something that’s come naturally to me, and even though I’m for sure still learning, I am ready to share every last little thing that I’ve gleaned from those around me."

Before I type another single solitary word, I want to state for the record: the idea for TOO LOUD came directly from Emily Bagg’s brilliant mind. I know for a fact that she’ll passionately disagree upon reading this, that she’ll attribute the brainwave to me instead, or perhaps, at the least, to both of us. She’s probably shaking her fist at her screen as she reads this. Because Emily, as all who know her knows, is constantly on the lookout for ways to encourage those around her.

TOO LOUD became a cute little nugget of an idea in the coffee shop near the office in which we both currently work. I had shared with Emily some personal frustrations about my place in the company, about how, when it comes down to it, I truly just felt like I was too much. I was doing too much, saying too much, I was too sensitive, too forthcoming, too this, too that. I had come to a point where I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with myself. As a chronic planner, someone who prides themselves on knowing what to do and where to be at all times, I felt for the first time in a long time that I was, in effect, just the wrong person in the wrong place.

Sitting on the high stools by the bright window next to the coffee cup lids and wooden stirrers, Emily turned to me and asked, outright, “if you could do anything, what would you do?”.

I have always admired Emily’s way of connecting with people. She doesn’t just make ‘friends’ - she has a knack for creating community with those around her. She is so authentically herself in a way that is vibrant and unapologetic, and yet, so gentle at the same time. When she asked me this question, something rose up in my chest and I answered,

“I’d like to work on something that I’m passionate about, and I want to work with people who are equally as passionate about the things they, too, are working on.”

I might have come up with our ‘why’, but Emily came up with the ‘what’. Too Loud Magazine is an online publication that aims to document what it means to identify as a woman and show up to all aspects of life as our authentic selves. We want to create a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about figuring out and embracing who they really are, and about being their authentic selves in their personal, professional, and social lives.

Throughout November, we’ll be sharing our ‘Dummy’ issue, a month-long project wherein Emily and I will be taking the time to curate a bit of a portfolio before officially launching in January of 2024. All articles will explore the theme of DUMMY, feeling a lil’ stupid starting a new project or job, moving to a new country, and reading pretty lofty books.

Because, at the end of the day, who is it that is most conditioned to feel like a dummy? In general terms, those identifying as women are surely more likely to feel stupid, inadequate, or unequal. Women are told constantly, through a number of channels, that they are too much, too loud, too sensitive, too emotional, too fat, too skinny, too feminine, too masculine, too everything that they could be.

There was a YouGov study released in January of 2023 that, to the internet’s utter amusement, claimed that one in three regular run-of-the-mill American citizens believes that they could successfully land a passenger plane. As Kate Lindsay of GQ confirms, among men, that figure jumps to 46%.

You may remember the Tik Tok trend where creators asked the men in their lives if they believed that they could win a point in a tennis match against the formidable Serena Williams. Once more, YouGov surveyed over 1,500 adults in Great Britain, and a jarring 12% of men thought that they could do it.

I’m going to be super clear here: I think this is wonderful. If I could bottle and wrap up self-esteem in pretty little crystal vials and dainty reams of ribbon, parcels upon parcels of it would sit under the Christmas trees and in the sparkly birthday gift bags of all of my dearest friends. The goal here is not to knock men down a peg - it’s to lift women up.

I’m going to be honest with you - I don’t know how to do that just yet. I hope that any future reader of this publication will be able to tell that we will be constantly working towards the goal of supporting and encouraging women in their pursuit of showing up in life as their authentic selves. Embracing who I really am has not been something that’s come naturally to me, and even though I’m for sure still learning, I am ready to share every last little thing that I’ve gleaned from those around me.

I also want to assure you, dear reader, that this ship has one hell of a co-captain. I am endlessly proud to start this project with Emily Bagg, who is delightfully loud and incredibly thoughtful and bravely emotional. I cannot wait to replicate the community, connection, and support she has been for me, for others like us, in Galway and beyond.

Love from,

Meabh Savage

Editor of TOO LOUD Magazine

Meabh Savage is a professional copywriter living in the west of Ireland. Since obtaining a BA Connect degree in Irish, English, and Creative Writing from the University of Galway in 2020, she has worked on a number of creative projects, including the Behind The Future podcast and TOO LOUD Magazine.