Have Faith

Terrorism.  Economic instability.  A dying environment.  Unsafe relationships.  The 2016 election.

The world is full of heartbreaking realities, which is not something new I needed to tell you.  It is full of overwhelming, negative problems, and some days it all seems hopeless for all of us.  There are days where you just want to give up.  We all have them. And as someone with anxiety disorder, giant problems like these are big triggers for panic attacks, which if you have never had one, feels like the walls around you are closing in and you're drowning all at the same time.  Needless to say, these are far from my favorite things in life.  

But oddly enough, for once I do not feel scared.

Like many other young adults my age in America, I stood in line to vote for the very first time to try and make a difference on Tuesday.  Now I am not going to tell you who I voted for for two major reasons:

1. My choice was personal and I do not feel that the entire world needs to know because it is private.

2. It really has nothing to do with this post.

So if you came here hoping to hear who I voted for (which I highly doubt you did), I am very sorry to disappoint you, but that is not what I'm writing about. If, for some reason, you are incredibly interested in my views, I would be more than happy to talk to you about that privately, but not right now!  However, even though the decision was difficult for me, I also know when I entered my ballot into the computer system that whatever I decided was not something I needed to worry about.  The future of the world is not in my hands.

Our future, as much as we would like to think we control it, is all taken care of and has been by the One loves us so incredibly much - God.  He is powerful, loving, and has the best interest of every person on this earth.  So when I left the room where I voiced my opinion, I knew the results would turn out how He intended because He always has a plan and a reason for everything that happens, good or bad. 

Wednesday when I woke up, I took a look on my twitter feed to see almost every person completely losing their minds and being super rude to each other because they couldn't understand how something like this could happen.  People with opposing views disrespected each other and let it tear their friendships apart.  They could not handle anything that was going on.  All of that reminded me of something my friends, Alexa and Shanika, went over in the middle school youth group I help out with, that really stood out.  We sometimes are told that God won't give you anything you can't handle, but as the two explained to wide-eyed fifth and sixth grade girls, the exact opposite is true.  God gives you things you can't handle on your own.  Just think about it, if God only gave you things you could handle, then there would be no reason for Him to be there.  He gives us difficult things that make us dependent on Him to help us realize that we need Him because He is the only way to get through it.  

To those who are scared, upset, or confused, this is the time for you to rely on Him.  Lean on Him. It is why we go through things that do not always make sense to us.  Ask Him for understanding and peace of mind.  He wants you to run to Him, so sprint full speed.

God has a plan and my faith in that is what does not let the anxiety attacks get the best of me in such crazy times in our world.  Faith is what saves us and the only decision we make that really does matter.  So, I encourage you if you have not already, to put your trust in Jesus instead of posting hurtful things on the internet.  Faith is the answer to all of it, and I can promise you that there is nothing better than knowing someone bigger than yourself has already taken care of it. 

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

-Deuteronomy 31:6

Feel free to post versus of encouragement in the comments below to help others and be kind to each other! God bless, and have a great rest of the week!  

Love Always,

Bree x

The World and the Media: Revealing Facts from a Journalist

The United States of America: a "melting pot."  Quite an ironic title these days if you ask me.  America is on the greatest of struggle buses.  The world in general is suffering right now, and we, as a country, watch the terrors that appear on our TVs with open eyes...and open mouths.

As an aspiring journalist, I am a part of the wide range of networks that bring you the breaking stories that make your heart smile or break into a million pieces. I am one of many who pick which stories they would like to cover and how much of it will reach your handheld devices within twenty-four hours. But it's important for you as a reader (and most likely not a journalist) to take a close look at my last sentence.  We writers pick which stories will make the front page.  We pick which one will land millions of views, which will be a small article on page 40, or quite possibly won't make the issue at all.  It is part of our jobs to figure out which stories will intrigue the general public, and put them in order from most to least interesting.  It makes sense for us (journalists and those in the media) to do that. It boosts ratings and keeps out the more insignificant stories that don't matter quite as much.  But at the same time that it keeps the small, less important stories from boring you, it also keeps out many stories that are just as important, but are things you may not want to hear. 

In the recent week, it is impossible for anyone to get on social media without seeing the #BlackLivesMatter.  This movement is growing at a constant rate, and frankly, I could not support it more. 

In addition to the hashtag, I am also seeing those who say, "well, all lives matter."  And they aren't wrong.  All lives do matter.  From a baby at the moment of conception to the oldest person on the planet, to the palest of the pales or the darkest of the darks, for all the sexual orientations, all the religions of the world, all the males and the females: all lives matter.  However, that is not the point of movements like these.  Just as I pointed out in my post on feminism, it isn't about putting another group down.  It isn't saying that an African American life is more precious and valuable than the Caucasian sitting next to them.  It is about the racial problem America is still facing.  It is about whites statistically being treated better than their black counterparts.  It is about fighting for equality, because we are far from there. 

Now back to how the media chooses what you see, I would like to take this opportunity to point out a very important fact when it comes to coverage and race.  Violence and tragedy takes place in absolutely every racial group. Just because it is not in the headlines does not mean that it is not happening.  Crazy people are everywhere, and that has nothing to do with the color of their skin. Our culture is becoming one full of making overgeneralized, sweeping statements. One bad egg doesn't mean the whole carton is bad just as one radical in a group doesn't make an entire group of people radical.  The fact of the matter is, though it breaks my heart to say this, statistically in this country, violence coverage for the black community is substantially higher than it is for the whites.  

Let me give you a couple unfortunate, but true, scenarios.
The first is someone telling a story about an event in the general public, and while explaining what occurred, mentioning the race of one of the people in the story.  In this case, the race of the person is irrelevant to the plot other than to add more descriptive details.  Everyday people do this, but it is extremely important to understand that journalists do also.  Small things like that add to the overall stereotyping, but it is so subtle that it is almost unnoticeable unless you are actively looking for it.  How about we make a new rule that unless you are writing a book describing the character to add a visual for the reader or unless the race is the subject of the story, we stop mentioning the race.  What does it matter?  So cut it out. 

Here is the second scenario: There is a white man who is planning a burglary walking around a house in a neighborhood while an innocent black man walks on the sidewalk.  It is much more likely for the black man to be covered and to be seen as suspicious simply because of his color, even though the white man is the one doing something wrong.  As much as I hate to say it, racial profiling is a real problem our country is facing.  It's not an opinion, it is a fact. The fight isn't over.  

And this is why I support movements such as "Black Lives Matter."  We have to talk about it because it is a problem. We have to take a stand and educate ourselves so we can help each other reach equality instead of making ignorant comments because we don't know the entire story due to the media. We aren't talking about other races because there's not as big of a fight or a fight at all to make it worth bringing up.  Every life matters, but black lives are fighting to end the same fight Martin Luther King Jr. did in his day because they haven't achieved what other racial groups have. So instead of continuing the "well, all lives matter" talk, let's be supportive.

Love each other!

Love Always,
Bree x

Why I am a Feminist

Welcome back to my blog! Let me reintroduce myself.  My name is Bree Thompson. I am a Catholic Christian and an active participant in my youth group.  I am a law-abiding citizen and an honors student.  I am a cheerleader, on student council, and a senior class officer.  I am a normal, now-high school graduate, an avid Netflix-watcher, a lover of chocolate-covered strawberries, and I consider myself to be a classy gal. But in addition to all those things that shape my identity, I am a feminist. It is certainly no secret if you know me personally, and if that is the case, you most likely knew this would be coming simply because I am not afraid to speak... about anything actually... but especially about things I feel strongly about.  So whether or not you consider yourself a feminist or whether or not you know me personally, don't click away just yet.  Give me a shot, okay?  Because as some wise person on Pinterest once said, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."

Feminism is such a touchy word these days.  It seems to have a negative connotation to a lot of people, which is saddening to me since in my eyes, feminism is something we should be enthusiastic about.  So before I start sharing my views, I am going to redefine feminism in my own words (I thought that would be more original than copying what the dictionary said like many other blogs I've seen. This is me trying to be creative):

Feminism to me is wanting everyone to be on the same playing-field and have an equal shot at every opportunity life brings.  I should add that this is not limited to just females or just males.  (Maybe we should rename feminism as "genderism" or "everyone-ism."  I'm just making up words now but Emma Watson, if you read this, what do you think?)  Feminism is about wanting men and women to be able to do whatever their hearts desire without feeling a need to get approval from the society around them.  It is not about hating men or burning bras.  I have plenty of guy friends who I love just as much as my friends who girls, and I have never once burned a bra or had it cross my mind.  In fact, all the of self-declared feminists I know are exactly like I am.  Don't overgeneralize.  Just because you burn one batch of cookies, doesn't mean all cookies are gross.  I believe that a guy should be able to cry without being told to "toughen up" because gender has nothing to do with the feelings we have inside. I believe the phrase "like a girl" needs to be something to be proud of for girls instead of an insult since, after all, we are girls.  I believe that working mom's and stay at home dad's should be celebrated since both genders are capable of bringing in money and taking care of their children.  I believe the social norms that tell us that girls should like pink and boys, blue, should stop.  I think a girl should be able to eat a whopping hamburger on the first date and boys dance till their feet hurt.  I don't want my society to define what is and is not acceptable for me to do.  Do you?

It is important to note that I am pretty lucky.  I live in the United States of America, a country where many of the gender issues have dissolved.  Just to name a few examples, I have the right to an education, the ability to vote, and can own as much property as my money will buy.  We ladies have come a long way thanks to the women before us who had the guts to make a better lives for themselves, their daughters, AND their sons.  Yes, boys, this all affects you too. I am very proud to say I am from a nation that has come this far, but there are so many not up to par with where I live, and frankly, the U.S. is no where close to being done with this equality battle.

To start, I'll open this scene up a bit. Have you heard of Malala Yousafzai?  You most likely have since she has not stayed quiet about any of the hardships she has encountered, but just in case you just replied "no," Malala is my modern-day hero.  As a now-eighteen-year-old from Pakastan, she was not born into a country as pro-girl as mine is.  At fourteen, she had the courage I could only dream of having when she personally called out the Talaban for trying to take away her, and many other girls', education in a speech given to Peshawar and in her undercover blog following her speech.  As you probably guessed, the Talaban was not super happy with her since her internet fan-base and opinion was quickly spreading, so they shot her in the head which traveled down to her neck on a bus-ride home from school in 2012.  She was in a medically-induced coma until she arrived in England where she faced several surgeries and was found to have no major brain damage.

Now, I would like to think that in her shoes I would have done the same, but if my government was trying to kill me, I don't know if I would've continued on.  But there was no stopping Malala.  She kept up her education in England and is still speaking in as many places as she can for education and women's rights which completely blows my mind.  She published a book, "I Am Malala," which I would love to read when I get the time, and carries on without any fear.  But, moral of the story, this girl is about the same age as I am in the present day, and she is facing death threats from her country because she wants to learn.  Have I made you a feminist yet?

Unfortunately, Pakastan is far from the last country that is facing a much harsher gender war than America did pre-1980.  (Fun-fact: According to nwhm.org, "Women did not begin attending college in equal numbers to men until as recently as 1980," in the US).  That is where everyone who has been rolling their eyes at feminists don't take into consideration.  Just because we are blessed, does not mean we should stand back and watch everyone else suffer to achieve what we have.

Now I am not asking you to put your life at risk to help girls in other countries, but why don't we start by fixing the problems still left inside our boarders.  Let's get rid of the stigma that girls are good at English and history, and boys are good at math and science.  Can't we all just be good at different things instead of making it about playing a matching game with topics and genders? I don't think that's super hard. Why don't we close the wage gap and make our pays equal for the same work? You can make the argument that it is only a few cents here and there, but where do you draw a line between it being too much?  If your teacher gave you a B on a test because they took off a few points and wouldn't give them back, but you really deserved an A, I know most of the people I am around would fight for every last point back.  You deserved that A, girls deserve equal pay. (I did not mean for that to rhyme, but maybe I should take up rapping along with my writing).

I don't want my gender, which is completely out of my control, to hold me back from anything I want to do.  I want to live my life to the absolute fullest, where I can be myself without worrying about crossing gender lines, and I would like that for my friends, family, and my someday kids if I am lucky enough to have them, as well.  Life is much too short to let our society govern what we do.  So gals, keep fighting like the wonderful ladies before us to stop getting the short end of the straw. Guys, don't let our world keep you in a "manly" box.  By striving for a better world in just those small ways, we can all make a huge impact on the rest of the world that hasn't gotten to where we are yet. Because we all suffer when things aren't equal.

Thanks so much for reading! Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Love Always,
Bree x