"That’s Just the Way It Is"- Or Is It?
Text "STOP" to Opt Out
There’s nothing quite like waking up, grabbing your phone, and realizing the only messages and missed calls you’ve received are election texts (phone dry as hell!)
Constant pings and notifications that remind us of the chaotic, disorienting time we’re in—a time that feels relentless, demanding our attention at every turn.
And yet, for so long, we’ve accepted “that’s just the way it is” as a final answer.
The final answer for the broken systems, inequalities, and injustices we see around us.
But let’s be clear—that phrase, that mindset, is precisely what’s kept us stuck.
This year’s election isn’t just about policies; it’s about breaking away from the cycles that have kept us stagnant.
It’s about bringing our values, morals, and virtues into the light and asking ourselves: What kind of future are we truly committed to?
We’re being called to look beyond the empty promises, polarizing political stakes, and slick sound bites, to focus instead on the character, integrity, and vision of those who claim they can lead us.
Are we supporting leaders who embody the values we want to see?
Or are we perpetuating a legacy of self-interest, exploitation, and disregard for the well-being of others?
This time, we’re being asked to examine something far deeper—the very essence of who we are as a people and what we’re willing to uphold.
It’s about setting a course that will impact not just the next four years, but generations to come.
The Shadows of History
Our values and beliefs have been muddled by centuries of “just the way it is” thinking—assumptions and narratives crafted by those in power, often white men, who placed themselves on pedestals as moral guides, modeling themselves after gods or heroes of mythology. (YUCK!)
They spun narratives that justified conquest, enslavement, and domination of people, land, and resources.
They rewrote history to serve their own purposes, embedding their values in our laws, our institutions, and our very sense of what’s “normal.”
This has left us not only with corrupted systems but with a corrupted sense of self.
Our history is a story told through a lens of power—power over others, power over nature, power for its own sake.
And this power, justified by twisted values, has left us with a world plagued by imbalance. We see it in natural disasters, in extreme weather patterns that mirror the chaos we’ve imposed on the earth —
We see it in the poisoned crops and tainted food supply.
The diseases we battle in bodies weakened by pollutants and junk foods
The “wellness” trends marketed to us as solutions to problems rooted in the very fabric of our society.
The Cage We’ve Inherited
Generations have grown up inside this cage—a cage built by men who cared only for their own gain, who manipulated culture, religion, and science to justify oppression, exploitation, and greed.
We’ve inherited a legacy of fear, consumption, and dependency on systems that no longer serve us.
From the “attention economy” that thrives on our endless consumption…
…to corporate practices that degrade the earth for profit…
…to cultural and societal narratives that pit us against one another.
We’ve been conditioned to live in survival mode, believing that it’s the only way to meet our needs and desires (it’s like being handed a script and told that’s the only role we’re allowed to play…smh)
But here’s the twist: it’s not.
We can choose to reclaim our power.
We can choose to restore balance in our lives and with Mother Nature.
We can choose to build a society rooted in values that actually serve all of us.
Reclaiming Our Morals, Our Virtues, Our Future
The stories we tell, the values we hold, and the morals we embody are what define us.
And it’s time to rewrite the story.
We’re not powerless spectators—we’re active participants in creating our reality.
This election is our moment to go inward, to examine our true values and virtues beyond what we’ve been conditioned to believe.
We need to ask ourselves: What kind of world do we want to create—not just for ourselves, but for everyone?
It’s time to reject this passive outlook on our lives and reclaim our agency.
It’s time to stop living in a reactionary state and start building a world where our actions align with our values, where justice, balance, and compassion guide us—not profit or ego.
We have an opportunity to choose leaders who represent these virtues, who value humanity and the planet over the interests of a select few. (A refreshing concept, right?….gulp)
The Shift Begins Within Us
This isn’t just a fight for policy; it’s a fight for the soul of our society.
We have the chance to bring harmony back (or at least take a step in that direction) to how we interact with each other, the world around us, and future generations.
This is about moving from scarcity to abundance, from divisive power to collective purpose.
So, ask yourself:
What values do you hold most dear? What morals guide you?
Because as much as we’re choosing leaders, we’re choosing the future we want to leave behind.
So….are you willing to continue living under a system that commodifies our time, energy, environment, and even our connections?
Or…
Will you choose to cast your vote with intention, to shift the tides and step towards a envisioning a future where values and integrity lead the way?
A New Path Forward
I have faith in the American people.
I believe in our power to see beyond illusions, to look at our leaders with clear eyes, and to hold them accountable for the state of our nation—and for the damage and harm they’ve caused to the world and to Mother Nature with their greedy, filthy hands. (Sorry...got carried away there!)
Even if this vote is just one step, it’s a step that can create a ripple effect toward dismantling broken systems and giving people hope that they do have a say.
Regardless of the tangled web of lies, corruption, and greed we must work to unravel, our collective action can make a difference.
We can no longer continue turn a blind eye passively to systems that drain us, that weaken our communities, that commodify our attention, and that erode our connection to each other and to the earth.
It’s time to tip the scales.
Let’s vote not just for the next four years, but for the generations to come.
Let’s vote for leaders who don’t see themselves as gods but as stewards.
Let’s vote for those who are committed to restoring balance, fostering unity, and creating sustainable change.
The Power of Our Choice
If you’re reading this, remember—your voice matters.
Your choice matters.
You have a say in shaping our collective values, our morals, and our vision for the future.
This is a call to action, a chance to redefine what’s possible.
Vote not only to change the present but to build a future we can all believe in.
This is our moment to break free from the cycles that keep our well-being and livelihood in the hands of those who misuse it.
Change doesn’t happen overnight; it unfolds gradually, with every choice, every conversation, every vote.
So do your part.
Cast your vote to take the first step in reclaiming and healing the distorted sense of self that’s been forced upon us.
Cast your vote for the future of our collective consciousness, the health of our planet, and the legacy we leave for generations to come.
The tides are shifting…
and together…
we are that change.
‘til next time,
Manny