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The Year of Establishment

Image by Generative AI

To Establish or Establish

As I step into a new year, the idea of establishing a new way of living, thinking, and moving in our ever-shifting world feels both daunting and exhilarating. The world around us is in constant flux, with changes happening at an unprecedented pace. In such times, establishing a firm foundation in our lives becomes crucial. This year, I aim to explore what it means to create a life rooted in stability, while also considering the dynamic nature of scaling which is a concept often associated with rapid growth and expansion.

Establishing vs. Scaling: A Delicate Balance

The word “establish” resonates with a sense of permanence and solidity. It suggests planting roots, creating a foundation, and building something that can withstand the test of time. Establishing a new way of living means consciously choosing values and practices that ground us, even as the world around us continues to evolve. It’s about finding what truly matters and nurturing those aspects, allowing them to flourish and provide us with a sense of stability.

On the other hand, “scaling” is often associated with speed and agility. It implies quick growth, adaptability, and the ability to expand rapidly. In our fast-paced world, scaling is essential for staying relevant and seizing opportunities. However, scaling without a solid foundation can lead to instability. Therefore, it’s important to strike a delicate balance between the two: establishing a core that can support growth, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to change.

Embracing Change with Intention

As we embark on this journey of establishing a new way of living, it’s important to embrace change with intention. This means being mindful of the shifts happening around us and within us, and consciously choosing how we respond. It involves cultivating resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to learn and unlearn as necessary.

To do this, we can start by examining our current habits and routines. Are they serving us well, or do they need to be re-evaluated in light of new circumstances? Are we holding onto outdated beliefs or practices that no longer align with our values? By asking these questions, we can begin to make intentional changes that support our growth and well-being.

Setting Goals for a Grounded Future

This year, my goal is to establish a life that is both rooted and dynamic. I aim to cultivate practices that provide stability and nurture my core values while remaining open to the possibilities that change brings. By doing so, I hope to create a life that feels both grounded and expansive. A life that is resilient in the face of uncertainty, and full of potential.

As we navigate this new year, let’s consider what it means to establish a life that is both deeply rooted and capable of growth. By finding the balance between establishing and scaling, we can create a future that is both stable and adaptable, providing us with the strength and flexibility to thrive in a shifting world.

If I had to choose a world I want to leave my children, I would always think about things being firmly rooted and established. It’s possibly the only way to make it last forever. How will you plant your flag? I hope it is not fleeting.

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Just The Facts: Whoever Controls The Media, Controls The Mindset Of The Masses, Therefore Ethics And Neutrality Should Be The Mainstream News’ Mainstay

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you believe everyone should know.

A lot of people are up in arms about the Washington Post’s recent decision to not endorse a political candidate. However, I have to admit, I never liked the idea of mainstream media endorsing candidates, due to its sway over the masses. Malcolm X spoke about this power of the media to make the “innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent.”

Now, in fairness, we depend on the news media to hold themselves to a high standard of journalistic integrity. But, with money as a strong influence behind the scenes, many wonder if that’s possible. Especially when there are bills to be paid and doors that need to be kept open for employees. But we are not ignorant of the power of media in all its forms. I am very familiar with the power of influence and the effect it can have on one’s life. I watched one influencer for ten years straight. She was mom and she had several failed relationships and she was always chasing a dream and a dollar. She was very beautiful, very vulnerable, and a stay at home mom like me at the time. I resonated with each crying spell and homemade fried chicken enchilada. But, the more I watched her, the more my life mirrored hers. I was slowly becoming a volatile red-lipped mess yelling at my kids to clean, and dreaming of dreams that I wasn’t working towards.

That is the power of influence and the reason I pay more attention to what I consume. You should too. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Remember, not only are we who they say we are, but we become what we focus on. It’s the reason I thought long and hard about the importance of sharing the problems, but highlighting the solutions of our world.

Plato once said that, “those that are able to see beyond the shadows and the lies of their culture, will never be understood, let alone believed by the masses.”

I have personal experience with being ahead of my time. It kind of forces you into a corner or the outskirts of your social circle. No one has the time or the capacity to think too deeply, too long, or too hard–and it’s an exhausting endeavor to be believed. But, I feel that change is coming. Who other than the news media, the most powerful entity in the world, should bare the responsibility of being factual and neutral? We are reliant on those overseeing our information to be fair, just, non-biased and balanced. Now, the people who work at institutions have opinions and they should, but they shouldn’t make it to the media.

“One of the reasons that we are in a free speech battle and many other societal battles at this time is because we have given freedom to the masses without parameters and ethics”–Luz

Yet when you think about the press and why people start them up, (myself included) it happens because you feel either misrepresented or overlooked. We do this because of those words imparted by Plato and Malcolm X–we need control and representation! You may feel that major outlets aren’t covering your issues. That’s a fair assessment as well. But, one of the reasons that we are in a free speech battle and many other societal battles at this time is because we have given freedom to the masses without parameters and ethics. I am largely speaking in the realm of journalism but you get my point.

Therefore in my opinion, major news outlets should not endorse candidates. They should remain objective and allow the people to make their decisions. Now, concerning the onslaught of misinformation administered by citizen journalists, and bloggers focused on entertainment operating with or without ethics, only reinforces the necessity of major news outlets being the standard-bearers of neutrality. In doing so, it serves as a form of checks and balances in the realm of reporting and influence. In my opinion, it was the right thing to do, and strong move for helping skeptical readers regain trust in their information sources.

What do you think? Should mainstream newspapers endorse candidates or lean heavily into religion?

Leave your thoughts in the comments.