New Year New Beginnings

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.0.7″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.0.7″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.0.7″ type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.0.7″ hover_enabled=”0″]As we enter into 2020, we aren’t only entering into a new year but a new decade. As we close out the last year and the last ten years, we can’t help but reflect. Reflect on changes in the world as we know it and the changes in our selves.

The past ten years in our country have been pretty crazy if you think about it. We have had major technological advances; we have had civil rights changes. Gay marriage became legal and we had our first black president.

Where we see signs of progress, we have also had major regressions in our society.

Kids are shooting up schools at record numbers, not even just kids in school but we have had several major mass shootings the past 10 years and no clear-cut reason to why. Kids, in general, seem weaker than the generations before them but they have more access to resources than we ever did.

They seem to grow up quicker and miss those years of innocence. Demands for stricter gun control laws arose in response to the increase in mass shootings, which drove up gun and ammo sales to an all-time high.

We gained progress in some areas but in others we lost ground. The demands for people’s rights to be taken away became the theme of the last decade. Flags and monuments became racist and offensive. Calls to destroy history resulted in rage and anger between races. A literal divide called the thin blue line came between those who support the police and those who don’t.

These things seem to come in phases and an irresponsible biased media seems to have been feeding the conflict amongst the races and classes. Instead of becoming more united as the people of the united states we seemed to have begun to re-segregate each other. Not just in race but in every demographic.

Political differences have been the topic of the past four years. A large divide between the DNC and GOP has destroyed relationships, split up families and ended friendships all because we have become such a politically charged society and feel the need to be right more than to have discussions about the future or the status of our country. A real estate tycoon and reality tv star became the most confrontational President of the United States of our time. The love and hate for this man are unmatchable to a time I can remember.

We came into a time where gender identity became a thing. With the acceptance of gay marriage came the conflict of people being forced to compromise their religious beliefs and be forced to conduct business with a practice they didn’t agree with. The trans world hit the media like a storm with people deciding they should be able to identify themselves in any way they want.

Conflict broke out about if a trans person should be able to use the restroom assigned to their biological birth or how they identified themselves. Ironically trans people are not new and have been using the restroom of their choice for ages but it was never an issue until the media made it an issue.

2020 promises to start off with as much conflict as the previous years. With another confrontational election steaming up there is no doubt things are going to get messy.

As we go into the new year and new decade and make goals for our own lives, we should look at what we can change in our communities. Remember change starts within. Don’t judge others; let them live their lives as long as their lives don’t affect yours and they don’t force theirs onto you.

Be kind, be patient, be understanding. We are in this world together. Raise your kids to be open minded and understanding but to have strong morals and beliefs. Get involved, volunteer, and vote for your local government. Stay informed, and make sure you know what’s going on in the world around you, also raise your children to care. The choices they make today when they are young will have the greatest impact on them when they are older and ready to start their lives.

It’s a new year and full of new beginnings, and there will be a lot of exciting changes with Mary Goodnight and our team. We will be working on developing a podcast, opening up article submission to others so they can share, ask Mary is always available for those looking for advice. We will also be working on merchandising this year. Thank you all for the support and please keep watching as we grow.

Happy New Year Love