Before the Internet, and even before the widespread availability of public libraries, it’s understandable that people didn’t question what they were taught. Most didn’t have the luxury of comparing their teachings to alternative perspectives or verifying what their faith claimed to be true. For generations, people accepted religious teachings as unchallenged truth, not because they were inherently logical, but because they didn’t realize there were other explanations to explore. Now, fast forward to today. Information is everywhere, yet so many people remain locked in belief systems they were born into. Why? Because indoctrination works. When you are raised in a strict religious environment, questioning the rules, the doctrines, or the very nature of the belief system is  forbidden.  Faith becomes not just a choice, but an obligation enforced by fear; fear of rejection, punishment, or eternal damnation. Religious leaders, such as pastors and priests, play a crucial role i...

Thanksgiving, as widely taught and celebrated in America, is a myth wrapped in feel-good lies. The narrative of harmonious meals shared between Pilgrims and Native Americans ignores the brutal reality of colonization. This holiday, as it’s traditionally framed, sanitizes the genocide, displacement, and cultural erasure inflicted upon Indigenous peoples by European settlers. The land we occupy was stolen. Treaties made with Native tribes were repeatedly broken, their sovereignty trampled upon. Entire nations were decimated through violence, disease, and forced assimilation. The so-called “First Thanksgiving” was not a celebration of unity but part of a broader history of exploitation and bloodshed. Even the eventual institutionalization of Thanksgiving as a national holiday came at a time when Native communities were being systematically stripped of their land and rights.  Celebrating Thanksgiving in its traditional sense feels like celebrating the theft, murder, and oppression...

Although there are currently 900 million active users on TikTok, there are hundreds of thousands who do not have a TikTok account and are missing out on a plethora of amazing products that are being promoted in the TikTok Shop. I have curated a list of some of the hottest sellers along with Amazon links so everyone can find and benefit from them!  This is not an exhaustive list as there are too many to list in one blog post. Plus, as the holidays approach, many new items explode onto the scene and are added daily. I will update you as more top contenders are discovered. 1. MicroIngredients Collagen Peptides >>   Click here for more information and to purchase! MicroIngredients Collagen Powder is a multi-collagen supplement designed to support your overall health and vitality. The product combines hydrolyzed collagen peptides from multiple sources (types I, II, III, V, and X), which are essential for strengthening and rejuvenating the skin, joints, bones, and conne...

I am about to introduce you to a company that is completely changing the game for chocolate lovers. This is not just another chocolate company; they are redefining what it means to indulge deliciously AND ethically. I'm talking about the brand Rayluca. It was founded in 2021 by Raluca and her husband, Bryan - who is a former U.S. Navy veteran. Rayluca is all about high-quality, vegan, and clean-label chocolate that leaves you feeling... SO good... inside and out. Their products are crafted with organic, fair-trade cocoa, meaning every bite supports sustainable practices and fair treatment of farmers. And guess what? No gluten... no soy... no palm oil - just pure, melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Listen... no joke... their lineup is incredible! From dark chocolate sea salt to hazelnut crunch, every flavor is an artisan masterpiece. And if you’re into hot chocolate (because who isn’t?), their chocolate beverage mixes are out-of-this-world AMAZING! But... what makes Rayluca truly sp...

It's true! I began writing a non-fiction book when I was 24, which was roughly 27 years ago. I managed to squeeze out a preface and seven fairly decent chapters. However, college happened, which changed my entire approach to and relationship with writing. The idea of going back through all of those paragraphs to wordsmith them into something more appropriate and worthy of publishing seemed daunting, to say the least. Thus, the book stayed "shelved" on my hard drive and backed up numerous times throughout the years until I recently "dusted it off" while perusing an old external hard drive.  Another reason I had been procrastinating - aside from the fact that I had literally forgotten about it several times - was that the book was initially an autobiography of sorts. At the time I had begun writing it, I had barely started living and experiencing life. I was only seven years into my transition. Although I had a story to tell, it was far less compelling than the on...