Cheers!

This last trip around the sun has been quite a wild ride. Politics, sexual abuse, racism and violence have dominated the mainstream and social media. Now that this year is coming to an end, I can’t help but wonder what I have learned from all of this.

Politics have gained more popularity than ever, I feel. People seem very passionate to express their feelings or concerns. Unfortunately, many will reject any opinions that differ with their own. It seems that everybody wants to speak out, but few are willing to listen. Don’t expect somebody to hear your voice if you aren’t willing to hear anyone else’s. We all really need to focus on working together peacefully, and communicate with constructive dialogue.

Sexual abuse has stirred up a lot of talk, and for good reason. Hollywood has started to purge some of their monsters, politicians resigning left and right (or continuing to run for election while allegations sit on their desk), and people are more comfortable with confronting their abusers.

Clearly we have done something wrong as a society when somebody gets sexually harassed and people shame the victim. When I hear things like “well, look at how she was dressed”, or “she was basically asking for it with her behavior” it makes my skin crawl. People should be allowed to express themselves freely without worrying about being raped or abused in any way.

Men need to learn that it’s okay to approach a woman and compliment her, and even flirt, IF she is comfortable with it. The minute that somebody becomes uncomfortable, man up and apologize, don’t be a creep. And if you can’t tell when you make somebody feel uncomfortable, don’t be afraid to ask. Obviously this goes both ways, just treat others with respect.

And another very important factor to sexual abuse, is reporting it sooner than later. I know that it’s not an easy task, but it’s generally better to confront these issues immediately, not ten years down the road. If someone makes you uncomfortable, tell them. If they abused you, report them before they can do the same to somebody else. And most importantly, don’t wait until they become rich and famous before coming forward, that opens up your experience to receive criticism.

Now I don’t even know where to begin with the racism. Those accusations have been thrown around so much that you may believe a Nazi is living on your street: or even your own home! Luckily, it’s not as bad as the media makes it out to be. Some of the biggest “hate crimes” have been discovered to be false flags. Why are we amplifying such despicable behavior?

It has gotten to the point where people are calling out Christmas songs for being racist. “White Christmas” has become a white nationalist holiday hit in the eyes of some. I find this disturbing, and very damaging. If you see racism in a Christmas song like that, it is just proof of how silly things have gotten. People are either just looking for things to be offended by, or genuinely feel these things are racist, either way it is absolutely ridiculous.

During this holiday season I’d like everybody to just be grateful, happy, compassionate and caring. Talk to each other more, and make sure you listen to what they have to say. Don’t look for problems that aren’t there, and don’t get offended so easily. Life is more enjoyable with a smile on your face and love in your heart. Happy Holidays to you all, take care of each other!