When you are standing in front of a mirror whose opinion, thoughts, or answers do you seek? Surely it cannot be that of a friend, relative, city-wide majority, or even television commercials, simply because they are not present. You stand before your mirror asking yourself questions that you in turn will answer. Sadly however your answer will not be without influence from every perceivable source available to you. You find it difficult to make a choice simply because your own thoughts are being swayed in so many different directions. Just imagine if you could empty all that input from your mind and decide for yourself what YOU feel is best for you, looks best on you, makes you feel the most comfortable. For the most part, we are all puppets on a string. We are manipulated, persuaded, and more often than not convinced to do, buy, and accept things that if not for all the influence we would not even consider. When you purchase that $140.00 pair of jeans is it because you deserve them, can afford them, and really want them? Or is it because some celebrity wears them and is paid to go on national TV and tell you how great, fashionable and are the most in jeans to wear? We are told certain foods are not good for us so we eat substitutes. We find out years later the additives in the food we substituted for the food that was bad for us can cause cancer or some other life-threatening disease. Then the publicity changed encouraging us once again to eat the food we were eating that they claimed was bad for us. Everyone claims to be in complete control of their own lives. In all reality, your lives are controlled. If I go to a discount store and buy my clothes how many people that I come in contact with do you think will actually look for labels to see if I am wearing a designer brand? “Laughing” I’m getting a visual of some idiot grabbing at my clothes yelling “Who made these!!! Who made these”!!!! You know people make fun of people for trying to keep up with the Jones all the time. Well, I’m here to tell you…. You are being made fun of every day. Every day someone is laughing all the way to the bank because they paid for some elaborate TV commercials and convinced you that the product they are selling is better than everyone else that is made the same way and with the same material while being a fraction of the price. People go out and coupon shop for the best deals in nearly every retail business there is. But by golly, if the label has (designer name) on it, it is worth everything they ask for it no questions asked. It must be great it is what everyone is wearing. Do you know why so many people of ALL races wear their pants sagging showing their underwear? Because some celebrities said it was cool, it was the in thing to do. It doesn’t matter that they can’t walk, run, work, or anything else because they have to constantly hold up their pants… It’s cool. Have you ever stood in line in a store and watched some guy bend almost in half reaching nearly to the floor to dig around in a pocket large enough to be a lady’s handbag trying to find his wallet? It’s hysterically stupid-looking. It makes as much sense as driving your car standing on the outside steering through the window. I saw a picture not long ago of a guy in a stadium looking up holding his hand above his eyes like a salute to block the sun while the bill to his ball cap was doing a great job of blocking the sun off his ear. But it was the in thing to do, it was cool. Friends when people start making fun of your idea of cool, style, and what’s in… maybe it’s time to be your OWN designer and quit listening to everyone else. It’s time we all start living to please ourselves, be accepted for who we are, and quit trying to keep up with the Jones. What do you think it says about you when you drive expensive cars, huge expensive houses, designer clothes, but you can’t afford to feed your family, go to a Dr. or Dentist, provide for your children? It’s time to quit being influenced by TV commercials and celebrities. It’s time to cut the strings and release the puppets. It’s time to clear our minds of all that others want of us and fill them with what we want for ourselves. Cut your strings and live your life.
Simply my thoughts
Dean Butler
