People are actually noticing odd things and  the strange undertones we have always lived with…  Gone are the days when we accepted that we had no choice or that “things are the way they are”…we are becoming braver and more united, then ever before. We are pathfinding through the delusions, step by step.

If you watch the news, you won’t agree.  If you are stepping out and talking with people, well, the TV is what you will question.

Today, I am posting about examples of the things I am calling into question- things I have had experience dealing with-

1. People pay taxes on land they own.  I have discovered that I have no say on who can walk into my backyard- “private property”.  Contractors hired by utility companies can do whatever is deemed necessary for the company.  It doesn’t matter if you use this particular company. Some of you may know this loop hole as an Easement.  Apparently, my neighbors also had this automatically written into their deeds- something they didn’t realize.  Some of you may say, “Well they compensate for damages. They have to do what they have to do.”  Let me ask this, if I have no mineral rights, which most people never had that option anyway, and I no longer have final say in agreements on what will be done with my yards, then how am I an owner paying taxes?  Am I not a custodian or possibly a glorified renter? I mean lets really think about this…I have read all about this and the loopholes seem to run circles around my lack of ownership, as defined by Webster.  “Ownership” seems like an open and subjective concept, defined by the best lawyers.

This started when a man caught me breastfeeding my son as he happened to look through the same window I happened to look through.  He was in my backyard, hired by a major telecommunications company.  It caught me off guard and made me uneasy.  This window was open to let in light.  It faces my backyard, not a street or a place with crowds of people.

Is private property an illusion?  Should we even own land?  Where does a person’s right to feel safe in her home start and end, in relation to large companies or to anyone?

BTW- mineral rights are also sketchy.  You may own the right to what is in your ground, but I know personally of one individual who was bullied off his family’s land, so that drilling for oil could take place. He is getting paid for this, but he used his land to make his own living. He had no desire to move off the land his family had for generations.  So, again, I ask is this ownership? And should we be taxed when our ownership can be modified to the extent that we can no longer live on this land?  You may ask, “why didn’t he fight back?”  Consider this, it was a large oil company bullying him and his family in there private dwelling.  They are normal people and all of his neighbors had already been forced of their land.  Standing up to anyone or thing is best with a team of people and resources.  Our society is still very individualistic.  While this is okay, it can also be divisive and seem to disempower us. Being a little more united could prove beneficial.

2. What’s up with the music industry?  First, I love music.  In my home, we are music loving people. For the first time in a long time, I am hearing music change.  People are writing lyrics that are both empowering, loving, and in the spirit of uniting.  Then there is the other stuff. Is it just me, or is there only very young people making music?  Most new artist are technically…children (some legally, but nearly all from a cognitive stand point).  Most older artist were simply those kids who stayed and grew up.  They say young people are the ones buying music so maybe the demand for the youthful sound comes from that…really?  Is this why there are so few  men and women above a certain age?  It makes me pause and ask, “is this coincidence?”    I’m not going to assume anything, but I will also not be surprised by anything.  We should start making connections and stop worrying about offending.

I have heard that the industry prefers younger people, for the sake of longevity, but is that what you see?  What I see is that these people are easily replaced by new faces.  The music industry seems to be a well-run, highly produced machine.  Why kids? These lyrics are often written by other people and these lyrics can be angry, anti love, vengeful, extremely sexual, and often very critical or cynical. Why are kids being signed?  Why these lyrics- if this combination were put into other circumstances, people would be angry.  The youth and sex or sexual overtones—how is this not off?  Why are we singing along to this stuff?

Yes, I know sex and youthfulness sells, but it sells because it was always going to sell.  Everything has been set up for this to work-it’s all connected…entertainment, fashion, the look of celebrity lifestyles, our own kids seeing kids dressed and acting a certain way.  Now this wheel has enough momentum that it just keeps spinning, unless the momentum slows…

3. Water. What’s in it?  Have you ever tested your water?  Simple ph strips can be purchased, as well as various testing strips.  When I moved to this area of the country, I noticed my skin aging fast.  At first, I simply couldn’t understand what was happening.  Then, one day while I was sitting on my bed, it hit me- the water…let me put it like this, after testing it, we  filter our water now. Yes, the filtered water was tested too.  BTW, I never saw the media reporting anything about the faucet water…until I left town for a couple of weeks. While visiting family, in a different area of the world, there was a report over concerns with the water- in my area!   Why was this being reported in the Caribbean, but not at home?  All I could find were old reports online, but nothing current. There were ancient civilization known for how they expertly handled the water.  Why do we struggle with our water?  It makes me wonder if there isn’t something we aren’t seeing.  The questioning part of me wonders if water, a necessity, is being treated more like a business venture- at our expense.

–We assume that aging has to look a certain way, but what if our idea of aging is off.  What if something else is interfering.  What if we assume genetics is all to blame, but there is more to it.

4. Fashion.  Who is setting the “trends”? I’m not talking about labels.  I mean the people behind the labels.  Adults.  Have you seen what is in juniors clothing stores?  This is coming from someone who thinks people should be free to wear anything. Lately, it’s as if the youngest people in our circles are being marketed clothes that may look fine. Then, on the body, the fabric is thin enough to show everything. Quality control has dipped so low in clothes for our girls. Has a lack in quality control been influencing the trends? Two questions: A) Doesn’t junior imply younger, like how young? Look at the sizes. It becomes apparent that this was made for someone…smaller…Sure, sizes have recently begun to get bigger.  Still, it’s like this stuff wasn’t made for an adult feminine body.  Maybe, I’m crazy but it seems like it’s made for girls in jr. high – some of the very junior ladies in our society. B) So, my next question- why are these styles and fabrics so revealing?  I’m actually more concerned with the fabrics- the way certain fabrics lay shows everything.  When I watch the young people in my family, they are still learning how to move in their clothes.  They are still learning how to wear the proper undergarments for the clothes ( are we moving away from undergarments?).  Women understand what I am talking about, and maybe (but especially) the men with daughters. There is a reason why some of us have issues with so called fashion now, because it almost looks like something else is happening…like as if our kids are being taken advantage of through their desire to have fun with their clothes… Maybe none of this matters? It wouldn’t matter to me, if it didn’t seem like our youngest girls’ naivete weren’t being taken advantage of, but it does feel like this, for me. Also, what is with the distressed thing?  When I was learning about the Civil War and slavery, well there were many horrible images I saw.  How do you imagine the clothing was for slaves?  Distressed AKA tattered.  Why would we ever want to even come close to entertaining that look.  ‘Dress the part or dress for success’ is what I was taught.  So, what is this?  Adults making questionable clothes in very small sizes.  How do we teach about respect and honoring our bodies, when sex (and whatever ‘distressed’ relays) is the undertone in clothes made for our very young.
5. Diamonds.  I find it hard to talk about diamonds and have revised this more than once.  I know some women want the experience of having certain types of jewelry. In the end, we should do what makes us happy.  Life is for living!  I feel compelled to talk about diamonds.  I’ve known 2 separate individuals in the jewelry industry who have told me that they bought responsibly sourced stones (vs. blood diamonds-look it up but, be aware it isn’t easy to read about…).  But, that they couldn’t be 100% sure of where the stones came from…diamonds are pretty, but are they worth human lives, or even the possibility of violence and destruction.  There is a company known for crystal figurines that also makes jewelry.  They have lots of bright beautiful shiny jewelry that makes a great substitution. Because, if you think everyone with money is spending their money on the real stuff, think twice.  The mark up on jewelry is insanely high.  What we pay for jewelry is nowhere near what it is actually worth.  The actual worth is a fraction of the price.  That is why, in part, so many people are in shock over resale value.  They overpaid.  In my opinion, diamonds are one of those things that we are conditioned to believe is worth the price we pay.  We see those commercials- if he loves you, he will put a giant rock on it.  When you look at what you get for thousands of dollars, it’s a joke- to me.  A joke that also has a cost to humanity.  Do I have diamond jewelry? Yes. Mostly, inherited stuff.  Others were gifts from years ago. Diamonds are a part of our culture, but why?  You know, for being rare, you can buy them everywhere.  Well,  to each his own…no judgement.  Of course, other industries also impact humanity.  I think I felt compelled to bring up diamonds, because these stones don’t wear out or go away- a single stone continues the cycle for many generations and in many ways ( e.g., battles in  court over ownership).  Diamonds seem to be something people keep slaving away for, fighting for in one way or another. It is a status symbol.  We are more valuable than diamonds- sometimes that is what I think gets lost.

If you look you will notice other questionable things. I realize that this may all seem like a stretch.  Let me say this, during both my undergrad and graduate studies, I saw that nothing happening in our industries, is coincidental.  Things are done very intentional, because everything cost money or time.  I also saw that many people in middle management positions weren’t privy to what was going on at their place of employment.  Though it has been my experience, that many managers don’t fully understand why questionable protocols may be followed strictly.

Few things are as they seem. Period.

Let’s open our eyes, and if something doesn’t feel right own that feeling.  Do something different, question the big thing, style, or trends.  We are more than the stuff we are sold.

Our kids, even the famous ones, deserve better. So do we.