It’s time to take a break everybody. For two years, we have heard nothing but politics, nothing but he said/she said. This weekend was the end of it. Let’s take a break.

Let’s take a break from labeling. No more “Republicans”, no more “Democrats”, no more “deplorables”, no more “libtards” – every time I start to see a post, an article that I think might have some merit, someone has thrown in a label that is designed to stir someone up, to alienate others.

Let’s take a break from the media sites who’s goal seems to be to shock you, not inform. We used to use the media to help us make an informed opinion, now we use them to tell us what that opinion should be. Let’s take a break from them.

Let’s take a break from choosing sides, that’s an elementary school game. This isn’t a game, people, this is real life.

Let’s take a break from playing the victim. Bad things happen in life, to all of us. Your bad thing isn’t worse because of what it is, it’s worse because it happened to you. Stop comparing, stop being victimized.

Let’s take a break from hate. Hate takes too much energy to sustain and it taints everything you do. When you hate, when you victimize, when you choose sides, you don’t leave enough room for love.

Choose today to love. Your family, your friends, those people who think like you do and more importantly, those people who don’t think like you do. Shouting doesn’t change their minds, love does.

Choose today to do something positive.

Choose today to think for yourself, not mimic someone else/

Choose today to be you. Whatever version of you that is right for you is ok. Don’t follow the herd, don’t change to be accepted, be you, in all your glory.

The United States is exactly that, United. United for a common cause, the betterment of our land, our people, our education. Support those leaders we all elected, whether in our hometowns, our state capitals, or the nation’s capital. They have a job to do, let them do it. I don’t mean rollover and play dead. Tell them if there is something you want done, tell them when they introduce something that doesn’t make sense, use the methods at hand. Find your tribe and share information they may not have, share visions they may not see, but try to look at it from the other side of the fence as well. Maybe, just maybe, there is a compromise. Offer solutions, not rhetoric, let’s get down to business.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and with that,
I pledge to take responsibility for my actions.
I pledge to take responsibility for my health and wellbeing.
I pledge to treat all people within our borders with respect:
-regardless of age
-religion
-sexual orientation
-politics
-education
-beliefs
-or occupation.
I pledge to live and let live.

Towards that end, I ask my government to NOT legislate
-My free will
-My actions that harm no one
-My body and my bedroom
-My decisions on how to earn and spend my money
-My decisions on how to live my life.

To that end I will serve and protect my family as my government serves and protects my rights. I will abide by all laws, rules and regulations and exercise my rights afforded me by the Constitution.

I’m going to STOP being offended, STOP being right, STOP assuming others are out to get me, STOP labeling, STOP judging, STOP taking things personally and STOP being entitled.

I’m going to START respecting others, START serving, START caring, START living, START helping.

I ask my government to stop making new laws, new rules, and new regulations for my protection and simply enforce those already in place efficiently and effectively, and if unable to do that, repeal them so all citizens are treated equally.

This is my pledge, this is my plea, folks, it’s time to stop separating our communities and work together for the America we all love.  America is beautiful, let’s treat her that way.