Is it audacity? Is it perversion? Is it boredom with their own lives? What is it exactly that makes Republicans—and specifically Christian Republicans—think they can legislate what happens in our uteri? Or in our bedrooms?

It’s NUNYA: none of your friggin’ business.

Would any of our rights be threatened IF it weren’t for people sticking their noses where they don’t belong?

“There’s your business, my business, and God’s business,” writes Byron Katie in her book Loving What Is. Ironically, the book is about accepting what can’t be changed, and instead, changing your perspective to be okay with what is. Katie uses a method she calls “the work” to help people understand why they are emotionally triggered, and she talks them through the mental barriers to help them learn and grow.

Right now, the whole damned Republican party needs to do a Byron Katie workshop. I want to know WHY Republicans think what happens with my body is any of their business. It’s not!

There’s your business, my business, and God’s business.

Your rights end where my body begins. And, you do NOT know God’s business. (I don’t care how often you reference the Bible or go to church, you’re not God and you do not know.)

Of course, these people understand the concept. They are the same people who cried MY BODY MY CHOICE when it came to wearing a mask. “Freedom,” they say. “Keep the government out of it,” they whine.

Where is the logic?! Where is the reason?! How can they not equate one with the other?

Because it’s not about freedom; it’s about power and control over women’s bodies.

Roe v Wade has been settled precedent for 50 years. I’m not willing to concede its overturning by a partisan Supreme Court established by a corrupt president.

I do not accept “what is” in this situation. Instead of changing my perspective, I’m working to change the Court.

First—it’s not done yet! It’s time to don the pussy hat and take to the street. It’s time to write and call the Senators. If SCOTUS does overturn Roe v Wade, it’s time to put money and time behind pro-choice candidates, knock on doors, and help turn out voters in November.  

Republicans will not stop with regulating our uteruses. The right to use contraception and to love and marry who we want are the next on their hit list.

Why? Because they have their friggin’ noses where they don’t belong.

Republicans, focus on your own damned body—and leave mine alone!

#LoquaciousLindee

Silumtaneous Usage TV and Digital and TV and Audio

How often do you watch tv and work on your computer at the same time? I’m doing it right now. According to Nielsen’s 1918 Q2 Total Audience Report, 45% of viewers are always or very often using another digital device while watching tv. Only 6% of tv watchers are using an audio device while watching tv.

Why? Because we LISTEN to our tvs as well as WATCH them!

TV commercials NEED SOUND! We consumers don’t just watch tv, we listen to tv; we HEAR a message. As the old adage goes:

YOU CAN’T SHUT YOUR EARS!

Seldom does the TV screen have our 100% attention visually. In addition to the 45% that is not 100% engaged, another 28% are also looking at a second screen. And, many of us are also on our cell phones! Are you getting the stats?!

We are not WATCHING TV, so every time a commercial comes on and THERE IS NO SOUND, WE DO NOT GET THE MESSAGE. TV ads that flash words on the screen without a narrator reading them OUT LOUD are wasting money and an opportunity! Politicians—can you hear me?!

Almost ALL of the political ads right now have video clips of Donald Trump telling lies. They play his words over and over again and on the screen image they flash the world “lies.” BUT NO ONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE WORDS ON THE SCREEN. If you are listening but not watching, the ad reinforces Trump’s message. There should be a narrator saying the words OUT LOUD!

Narrator: DONALD TRUMP IS LYING.

Then the narrator gives the CORRECT INFORMATION OUT LOUD! So people can hear it if they happen NOT to be watching. Which is the majority of us.   

Conduct your own experiment. You watch tv, right? Contrast these two videos:

Eleven Films does it right. Although they don’t use a narrator, each clip includes AUDIO that tells the story. This 2:00 video calling Trump out for his Coronavirus incompetence is easy to understand even if you aren’t watching but only listening.

“You can’t trust this President to do the right thing,” says a person in a voice-over of a picture of EMTs rolling away a body. Then next clip shows Trump calling Coronavirus “the new Democratic hoax.” On comes another visual of people being screened by emergency personnel with the voice-over, “not for the sake of our country.” EVERY important point is emphasized with visuals AND AUDIO.  

WATCH AND LISTEN to this video from Eleven Films. They are on a mission to save Democracy. Subscribe to their Youtube channel and #Resist! And Democratic candidates—please hire Eleven Films to get your message out!!

BREAKING: the American Virus: We Will Prevail

Contrast that with this commercial from The New York Times: The Truth Can Change How We See the World

New York Times: The Truth Can Change How We See the World

The commercial begins with ocean scenery and Janelle Moonaea, a beautiful African-American woman, telling the story of 20 enslaved Africans being delivered to the shores of Virginia and sold to the Colonists. “America was not yet America,” she says, “but this is the moment it began.”

THEN, NO MORE SOUND BUT THESE WORDS COME ON THE SCREEN

“Words from

The 1619 Project: How Slavery Shaped America

The truth can change how we see the world.

Truth is worth it.”

Then the New York Times’ logo appears.

LIKE WE SAW OR HEARD THAT!! A beautiful ad by the New York Times, apparently one in their “Truth can change how we see the world” campaign. Great campaign, but here’s the BAD NEWS.

NO ONE IS GETTING YOUR MESSAGE. YOU GOTTA SAY THE WORDS OUT LOUD!

According to a random ppt presentation I found on LinkedIn, people remember:

10% of what they read

20% of what they hear

30% of what they see

50% of what they see and hear

80% of what they say

90% of what they say and do

So, if you want people to remember what your tv commercial “says,” you’ve got to help your audience SEE and HEAR your message. If you can get them up doing the hokey-pokey and singing along, even better.

#LoquaciousLindee

Need a Christmas or holiday gift? Buy and give Penzeys Spices and help save Democracy! I kid you not.

Penzeys Spices is doing more than manufacturing and providing tasty, quality seasonings, they are sharing their positive, inclusive, hopeful message on social media. In addition, they are actively buying Facebook ads to help combat the onslaught of Trump’s lies. So far, Penzeys has invested around $100,000 on Facebook ads. That may seem like a lot, but compared to the $1 MILLION/week Trump is spending to poison our minds, it’s barely a pinch.

All of my family and friends are getting mini box sets because a large portion of the proceeds are going to fight Trump. My favorites are the Soul, Kind, and Vote gift boxes. Just read the description for the Soul Box and I’m sure you’ll agree, Penzeys spices are good for heart, mind, body, and spirit.

Buy Penzeys Spices!

Once you do your holiday shopping at penzeys.com, go follow Penzeys on Facebook and the other social platforms. They often write about the damage Donald Trump is doing to the planet and its people. They often call out the injustices of the Trump Administration and they’re asking us to get involved.

If all companies were as conscientious as Penzeys, the world would be a much better place. Unfortunately, the all mighty dollar is what drives most companies. Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook I’m talking about you! Therefore, we MUST support the companies that call out the cruelty and criminality of Donald Trump, and Penzeys does that. 

And, in the meantime, while they fight against social injustices, Penzeys encourages each of us to do what we can to fix our own small worlds. For many of us, that starts at home, over dinner. Show your family how much you care. Spice up their lives with Penzeys Spices.

#LoquaciousLindee

Live without pretending, love without depending, listen without defending, speak without offending.

Live without pretending.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa. Staring at the back end of a Holstein and shoveling what came out was a daily occurance. That’s about as authentic as you can be. It wasn’t until my 30s that I adopted a new phrase: Fake it ‘til you make it. I first heard it when I joined Mary Kay Cosmetics. Meaning, envision who you want to be, and pretend you are that until you become that. Pretending was encouraged and a way to “visualize” a brighter future. I did that for years…until I returned to my true authentic self. Today, I’m just me, not pretending to be something I’m not.

Love without depending.

We’re taught that love is a two-way street; that’s what a relationship is—a never-ending circle of give and take, each person giving to and depending on the other. But is that really what love is? Isn’t the real challenge to love without expectation of love in return? Especially when you don’t agree?

Listen without defending.

Conflict is uncomfortable, especially with someone you love. The challenge is to fully listen to them—even when you want to defend your point of view. Most people are simply waiting for the other person to stop speaking before they add their “two cents.” It’s in these moments, most especially, that we have to keep quiet and let another person express their views. Even when there is no solution in sight, listening is the key to moving the relationship forward.

Speak without offending.

If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all. That’s Mom logic and advice I heard often growing up. That philosophy fit for a long time…like the fake-it-til-you-make-it mantra. … And, I think that’s the reason I’ve fallen back into pretending. I am NOT happy with the state of the world. I don’t trust Donald Trump or the Republicans to govern. They are absolutely trampling on human rights: brown people, black people, women, Vets, the lgbtq community–and the planet! There are atrocities being perpetrated on the American people and especially immigrants, and because I don’t want to say anything offensive, I find myself not saying anything at all. Given our current political climate and state of affairs, this is no longer an option!!

It’s time to step up and speak out—even if you can’t be kind. If you have conflicts with someone, look for common ground. There is more that unites us than divides us. But when human rights are at stake, we MUST speak up and defend the rights of others—even if that means offending someone else with our words.

Will I continue to live, love, listen, and speak with respect to others? Yes, I will. But I will not pretend what is happening in America is tolerable or acceptable. When conflict arises, I will live without pretending to agree with others when I don’t. I will love the person I’m disagreeing with without depending on their acceptance or approval. I will listen without defending my point of view but vow to do my best to help them see it my way. And I will speak without offending knowing respect and compassion are keys to healing conflict—and ultimately the world.

#LoquaciousLindee

 Read more about Political Correctness

I read this excerpt from Elisabeth Parker, Writer and had to share.

My best girlfriends have jokingly talked about an intervention for me, a political intervention. They think I watch too much politics on TV. They can’t watch. It’s too brutal and Trump too vile. They’ve tuned out. They don’t want to know. And they think I should take a break as well because I go crazy watching Trump and the GOP lock kids in cages, do business with the Russians, take money from middle-low income people–all while destroying the planet!

But who is going to pay attention? Who is going to speak-up for immigrants and champion the young souls Trump has ripped from their caring parents’ arms? Who will stop Trump from seizing private and public lands to erect his racist, ego-driven wall? Who will fight for education for our young and medical care for us all?

I will. And I need your help.

As a white woman, a woman of privilege, I’m embarrassed that the majority of white women voted for Trump. I don’t understand it. Have they no empathy for others? Perhaps Trump’s destructive policies haven’t reached them personally, yet, but they will…in the form of lower pay, loss of control of our bodies, discrimination against LGBTQ people, and dependence on men. Women voting for Trump voted against their own interests. They’ve conceded their power to a bunch of old, white men. Men of self-imposed privilege that, in most cases, they’ve taken through entitlement and violence.

A woman on my twitter feed, a Trump supporter, is pissed. She totally bought into the #GOPTaxScam. She believed Trump had her best interests in mind. But, she’s not getting a tax refund this year. She’s having to pay $5000 instead. That was her red-line. She says Trump has lost her vote. That saddens me.

Not that Trump has lost her vote, but that KIDS IN CAGES ISN’T a red-line issue for her. That saddens me and sickens me. What have Americans become? She represents the worst in humanity; she’s desensitized to another human’s pain. Trump brings that out in people. He’s vilified immigrants to such a degree that some white people no longer care, if they ever did. Privilege brings that out in people.   

I vow to use my time to stay educated on the issues—and educate others! And, I vow to use my privilege to fight for people of all colors, sizes, shapes, and flavors. And I invite you to join the cause. The question is:

What will you do?

Will you step-up and speak-up? Are you still tuned in? Do you KNOW your country needs you? Democracy needs you? Right now! Use what you have to make a difference. Don’t wait for the pain to arrive at your doorstep. Have empathy for others. Use your own privilege to make a difference.

#LoquaciousLindee   #whitegirlprivilege  #libertyandjusticeforall

I’m Out and Proud!  a #TrumpBuster

I, Lindee Brauer, aka Lima Bravo, as one citizen of the United States, I humbly call for the resignation of Donald J Trump, leader of the angry, fearful and hopeless.

Trump’s terrifying vision for the United States was on display at the State of the Union address, and it continues to play out daily in terms of destructive and abrasive policies. Let the media hash-out what Trump said, separate fact from fiction, what they think is worth mentioning. As for me?

Here’s what Trump DIDN’T talk about:

  • The thousands of kids he has in cages!
  • Preventing another Trump government shutdown!
  • The National Butterfly Center in Texas, the land he is fixin’ to bulldoze down to build a wall the size of his ego.
  • PEOPLE WHO WERE MURDERED and/or affected by GUN VIOLENCE, including the kids from Parkland. #ParklandStrong #WithYouFred and other folks
  • Climate change and its threat to our survival.
  • The 1.5 TRILLION DOLLAR US deficit.
  • How he was plotting to build Trump Tower Moscow through-out his entire campaign and how he’s Putin’s bitch.

Let’s talk about the things Trump didn’t mention. #RussianAsset

More to come…

#LoquaciousLima #TrumpBusters

Also, see #DouchebagWisdom douchebagwisdom.com

When did being Politically Correct become a bad thing?!

Donald Trump has denounced political correctness and has built a campaign disparaging and belittling others: Hispanics, Muslims, the Black and Asian cultures, Women, the Republican Party…and the list goes on. He wears being mean, nasty, snarky, and politically INcorrect as a badge of honor, something to be proud of. But what’s wrong with being politically correct?!

Being politically correct is simply being respectful and polite; two words that are not in Trump’s vocabulary or mindset. “Respectful and polite” are attributes strong leaders emanate—even if they disagree with or see differently than the person they are speaking to or working with. It’s not necessary to be in complete agreement on issues when respect is present. Polite, respectful conversation can lead to compromise and win-win situations for all.

But when being “politically correct” is beyond a leader’s mental capacity, when polite conversation has ceased and the conversation has turned to condescending, belittling language, we all lose. The person or group who’s being verbally attacked with politically incorrect language feels victimized; and the attacker, the bully has weakened our position as a nation that acknowledges, appreciates, and embraces people or cultures that can help build a brighter future for us all.

I don’t profess to know the politics of Dear Abby, Emily Post, or Miss Manners, but each of these women made a name for herself by being polite and sharing her perspective and advice with readers. I doubt any of them would say it’s okay to mock and minimize another person or culture. And, if they heard Donald Trump today, they’d probably suggest charm school. (Too bad he can’t take his millions and millions of dollars and buy some manners.) In lieu of charm school, read this most excellent article by Sara Altschule at Bustle.com, 8 Etiquitte Tips That Will Make You Seem More Classy. All these suggestions are “politically correct” and easy to follow

I have a choice, you have a choice, we all have a choice: whether we use politically correct language or not. But truly, what can it hurt? Don’t you want to be acknowledged and respected? Isn’t this a simple common courtesy that is simple to extend to each other? All politics and beliefs aside.

We’re all in this together, whether we acknowledge it or not. H2H. Human to Human. So why not be respectful? Why not be politically correct?

#LoquaciousLindee

The word of the day is Patience.

For a cute reminder of the letter-of-the-day, watch Sesame Street’s tribute to the letter “P.”  Believe me, you’ll need patience to deal with today’s political scene. Especially Donald Trump.

The P word I want to focus on is Patience. Why? Because everyone wants it and I have it. At least in this moment I have it. It comes and goes; it’s fleeting, like a butterfly. The more you chase it, the quicker it leaves.

How is it I have it? Because “All things in God’s time.” That’s the Christian version. The Wiccan version: “As above so below.” New Agers would say: “All is well in all of creation.” The uncommitted might say “It is what it is.”

I have to believe everything is as it should be, because the alternative approach—to not believe–is living in fear.

Right now, Donald Trump is ravishing our nation. His reality-show presidential bid is getting exactly what he wants—ratings! He wants to win at all costs. But what he believes is repugnant. Disgusting, to use his favorite word. What he believes, his ideas for the nation, will cause calamity. He’ll put a target on our back.

We’ll be living in fear. A world where Trump is going to build our military and use it as a threat over other nations, leverage for when he needs to negotiate hard. He wants to go back to religious persecution. He points his fat fingers at people and says they are ISIS. He’s making this up as he goes. It’s like watching a WWF Smack-down match.

I’d say he’s a pig, but that’d be insulting to the pig. He’s a racist, a troll, a thug, and ironically exactly the opposite of what he wants to be. This man is a loser.

Trump is inciting violence. He brags that he could shoot someone and people would still love him. His rhetoric is so disturbing, calling people that don’t believe what he believes “bad.” So anyone who opposes what Trump thinks is “bad, a very bad person.” He says he’s a “unifier,” but his “us against them” mentality is empowering people to strike out. His crowd is turning ugly. As ugly as he is.

How do I know that Trump creates hate? Because his fans hate others. And because I hate him.

I don’t hate very often. I’m smarter, bigger, and better than that. I listen, I accept, and I believe we can all get along. We all come to this universal truth in our own time. Some never get to that understanding. Trump supporters obviously are not there. Neither is Trump.

That means I have to have patience, and belief, that people will come around; they’ll come to see, hear, and understand the maliciousness in his speech, his words. If they continue to watch him, hopefully they’ll see through the celebrity and see the monster.

President Obama says he’s not worried, he has faith; faith in the American people, that they won’t elect Trump. We’re smarter and better than that, Obama says. I choose to believe the same, and have patience that the American people will envision a better world than the one Trump presents. That people will act better than to follow Trump’s encouragement–to beat up those that don’t stand with him.

As I watch his nasty hate-filled face plastered on the TV, I choose to turn the channel, and watch Sesame Street, where P is the letter and Patience is the word.

And believe that “All is well in all of creation” if I just have Patience.

And that’s the word of the day. Patience.

#loquaciouslindee

Drop the F-Bomb

When most people drop the F-bomb, they add the word “f*@k” to the sentence. When I drop the f-bomb, I mean I’m dropping it from the sentence.

 

            I used to use the f-bomb all the time. It is, after all, every part of speech, pronouns to adverbs. The Peevish Penman’s blog site spells it out, adverbs to expletives, The Nine Parts of Speech and the F-Word. It’s funny, worth the read; my favorite example is prepositions. J

 

            But I read once that using the f-word was a sign of hidden anger. A quick analysis of the times I was inspired to use it confirmed that. I’m pretty passionate when I use the word, and yes anger has been part of that word selection at times.

 

            I also use the word when I’m excited—or surprised! It’s more about the intensity of the situation. It’s like the word “douche.” You only call someone a douche when they’ve done something extremely lousy and crass. F*@k is kind of the same way. It represents an extremeness; intensity; a uniting of energy released in a word that invokes a myriad of reactions.

 

            Being a speaker/trainer, I don’t use the word professionally. Too many variables and interpretations; too many people with time to be offended. My friends, however, have heard me use the word plenty. Too much, I think. So I’ve dropped it from my vocabulary. (Except for today when I had a minor relapse and used it in every sentence on a 10 minute tirade. Phewh…that felt good.) And now I’m dropping it again.

 

            There are plenty of other words to choose.  

 

 

The best way to do yoga—3x a week.

treepose1.jpg

   It’s a commitment thing really.

   If you’ve done yoga, you’re probably nodding your head, but if you never have, you just don’t know…

   There is real growth in all that stretching; not just your body, but your mind. It’s like the brain cells elongate with the stretching of the body cells. I reach over my head in Vrksasana (Tree Pose) and I feel every part of my brain expand. I’m able to think farther.

 

   Goodbye stinkin’ thinkin’ and hello brighter tomorrow. A better tomorrow. And that’s just from one class!

 

   Imagine what good I could do with that kind of positive vibe 3 times a week! Why wouldn’t I want to do it 7 times a week?!!

 

   (Yes, I know, a body needs rest. And so does a brain.)

 

   3 times a week…it’s like compound interest on good vibes, where the principle keeps increasing and so does your well-being.

 

   The best way to do yoga? 3 times a week, this week, next week, and every week after.

 

   Who knows where a good stretch could lead me?  😉