Category: General

Leaning Into the Quiet

June 25th, 2023

For the past four months I’ve been doing a weekly video blog project on my IG and Facebook accounts. Basically, I’ve been going through the alphabet and focusing on one letter each week, choosing a word that starts with that letter and then spending 1-2 minutes speaking about how that particular word relates to my personal growth journey. This past week was focused on the letter Q, and I chose to talk about how I find it challenging to sit in quiet.

I am one of those people who loves background noise. Maybe it’s from growing up in an urban environment, but silence has always made me feel slightly anxious and uncomfortable. No matter what I’m doing, I always have some kind of noise going on in the background. Whether it’s a podcast, music, or a movie I’ve seen 20 times before, I find it comforting to be surrounded by a low level of chatter and noise. Up until a few years ago, I couldn’t go to bed without the TV on because I needed the comfort of the noise and light in the background to fall asleep. Thankfully, I’ve kicked that habit, but I still don’t like sleeping in silence. I’ve basically traded the TV for a sound machine and my Aura app, and I now fall asleep listening to stories being read in a calming and soothing British accent, with the equally delightful sounds of a thunderstorm or ocean waves in the background.

I suppose my need for background noise might sound contradictory considering I purposely moved to a rural community to be away from the constant noise and traffic that comes with big city living, and I truly enjoy spending time alone. One of my favorite things to do is sit by myself on my porch swing, or go on a solo drive where you see nothing but fields and farms for miles and miles. When I lived in Washington, my go-to for solitude was hiking in the woods behind my house. There is something so incredibly awe-inspiring and humbling about being 2-3 miles into a hike surrounded by nothing but trees, trees, and more trees, and feeling so remote that if you were to stray off the path, you’d be lost and have no idea where you were.

But as much as I love the visual aesthetic and eerie feeling of being alone in the woods, taking a solo rural road trip, or sitting on my porch swing watching a sunset, I don’t particularly care for the silence of communing with nature, and I find it much more enjoyable with a podcast or some music playing in the background. However, since I’m on this whole personal growth journey, I’m challenging myself with doing things that take me out of my comfort zone. So, learning to sit with myself in silence, at least for a few minutes a day, is one of the things I’ve started to experiment with.

It’s not that being alone with my thoughts is uncomfortable. I think it’s more about that fact that it’s incredibly difficult for me to quiet my mind. When I’m sitting in silence, all of the thoughts in my head just seem to get louder and more demanding, and I end up getting overwhelmed by my mental “to-do” lists. I guess in a weird way, I feel like I have better focus and concentration, and I’m way more productive when there’s noise in the background.

The exception to this is when I’m writing, such as at this moment, when I’m sitting quietly in my office with the only noise being the clack of the keys as I’m typing, the whirring sound of the ceiling fan, and the occasional loud bangs and creaking overhead as my metal roof settles in the heat. Then again, I’ve also yawned about 30 times in the past 15 minutes, and I’m struggling to keep my eyes open at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon, so I’m not sure how productive this really is…

However, all tiredness aside, my point is this: When I take the time to ask myself an important question, and I actually lean into the quiet, that’s often when I get the answer. It may come in the form of a burst of inspiration, the solution to a problem, a point blank direct answer, or just an awesome idea that’s in alignment with my purpose. But it’s always something.

Intentionally leaning into the quiet is also when I hear my intuitive thoughts with the most clarity. My intuition still comes through when there’s background noise, but I have to admit it’s way more vibrant and definitive when I’m sitting in silence. And since I’m really making a point to connect more deeply with my intuition, I’m going to have to be more intentional with spending a few minutes each day listening to what it’s trying to tell me without my usual distractions in the background (such as the dogs that are now barking loudly in the living room adjacent to my office…).

So, if you’re feeling lost or overwhelmed or confused, and you’re looking for an answer, or you’re just looking for that next brilliant idea for your business or a project, try sitting in silence for a few minutes. Go outside at night and sit quietly under the stars. Take a solo walk. Grab a coffee and go to the park. Or just go to your favorite room and shut the door. The answers are there. Sometimes you just have to lean into the quiet to hear them.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
I Want a Divorce

June 15th, 2023

Well, I’m back. I’ve been MIA from the blog because life has just gotten overwhelmingly busy. I’ve started coaching CrossFit again, and I’m taking two very extensive and time-consuming professional development courses, while trying to juggle a full-time job, the podcast, high-maintenance animals, and multiple home responsibilities. It doesn’t help that it was storm central here in the panhandle (where it supposedly “hardly ever rains…”) for four weeks, with consistent pouring rain that turned my street into an almost impassible river at times and resulted in a costly roof and ceiling leak, as well as flooding issues with my horse stalls, the goat pen, and other areas of the property. Suffice it to say my free time has been pretty much non-existent lately, and this blog has fallen by the wayside.

But, enough of my whining. At least about that. I’ll whine about the topic at hand instead. As the title of this article states, I want a divorce.

There often comes a point in a relationship when you realize there is nothing worth saving, and it’s time to call it quits and move on to something better. I think that time is wayyyyy past due. You might be saying to yourself, “Huh, I didn’t even know she was married…?” Valid point, yet completely irrelevant in the context of this particular post. The relationship I’m referring to is far more toxic and damaging than any bad personal relationship I’ve been involved in (yes, there have been a few). I want a fucking divorce from the Biden Administration.

Perhaps this sounds amusing, but I’m totally not joking. We are far beyond the point of therapy or any kind of intervention to fix things. When a partner is inherently evil and rotten to the core, which is how I see the Biden Administration’s role in this marriage between the government and its citizens, no amount of wishful thinking or talking things over or assistance from a mediator can smooth things over or magically resolve problems. The only solution is a complete and total severing of ties.

Do you stay in a relationship with a partner who betrays you by hooking up with other people behind your back, while telling you they love you and are committed to your relationship? Do you stay with someone who tries to control you under the pretense of taking care of you? Do you stay in a relationship where your partner tries to isolate you from your loved ones and take away your freedoms and make you dependent on them for everything? Do you stay with a partner who’s arrogant and narcissistic and believes they are better than you? Do you remain in a relationship with someone who consistently and repeatedly lies to your face and never takes accountability for their behavior? What about a partner who blames all of your current problems on your ex? Do you stay with a partner who takes your hard-earned money away from you, spending it on things that don’t benefit you, while forcing you deeper and deeper into debt? Do you stay in a relationship where your partner tries to turn your children against you and take away your parental rights if you don’t believe your child should have gender reassignment surgery at 12 years old? What about a partner who purposely tries to create problems between you and other people? Do you stay with someone who tries to silence you when you stand up for yourself? Do you stay in a marriage where your partner tells you that you should be ashamed of who you are and what you believe in?

These are all things the Biden Administration has been doing in our relationship. Our “leader” (it truly pains me to use that word) is essentially a foreign agent and in bed with China, while telling us he’s committed to America and the fight for democracy (which, frankly, should be the first clue that this relationship is a sham because America isn’t even a democracy). Our government consistently tries to take away our independence and our ability to support ourselves and our families. For two years, we were isolated and told not to socialize with friends and family members during a manufactured pandemic that fractured the nation in a vaccinated vs. unvaccinated battle, resulting in millions of lives, families, and businesses being destroyed, while the elites carried on as usual, going to parties and dinners at their whim and getting even richer off their connections with big pharma. We are constantly lied to and deceived, even when the truth is exposed, and nobody in power is ever held accountable or admits to wrongdoing. Our government smiles and laughs while censoring our social media accounts, telling us it’s for our own good to protect us from “misinformation.” Our economy is suffering and other countries are ditching the dollar left and right, but the Biden Administration continues to spend ungodly amounts of money on foreign wars and instituting policies and programs that are ruining our country and dividing us to such an extreme that many people have lost their ability to even think rationally or independently anymore. And when those of us who believe in fighting for America and protecting children from indoctrination stand up for ourselves or speak out, we are called racist and trans-phobic and put on government watch lists, labeled as domestic terrorists and threats to democracy. Why the fuck would anyone want to stay in a relationship like this…?

As with many failed relationships, sometimes it seems like there’s no way out. And that’s pretty much how I feel right now. Even with an exceptional divorce lawyer, I don’t see a happy ending because our “partner” doesn’t play by the rules. Yes, I am one of those people who believes the 2020 election was stolen, and that election fraud was rampant during the 2022 midterms as well. So, no, I don’t have high hopes for a fair and equal election in 2024, especially in light of the continuing lack of accountability for the Biden Crime Family (and everyone else in our corrupt government administration), which is in stark opposition to the constant witch hunt against Trump. Whether you like Trump or not is irrelevant. Unless you are completely ignorant, or just lacking all common sense, it’s beyond obvious that our government entities have been weaponized, and we have a very blatant and dangerous two-tiered justice system with the intention of purposefully destroying this country.

When a divorce gets nasty, sometimes you have to split assets, and as much as I love this country, I honestly don’t think I would have a problem with creating some new dividing lines. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before. The entire history of the world involves realignment of territorial lines as a result of wins and losses in war. I’m willing to give up the east and west coast blue states that want to be controlled by communism and break off to form a new independent country. Sure, MAGA would be great, but I’m game for starting over from scratch. America, Take Two.

Wishful thinking, eh? Well, one can dream. And with that, I’m off to do some coursework for one of the more realistic dreams I’m working on. You know, the positive inspirational shit I usually prefer to write about. But, I’m writing this post because the message I’m trying to get across is relevant. If we allow this corrupt marriage we are currently stuck in to destroy our freedoms any further, we won’t have the opportunity to pursue our dreams and do the positive inspirational shit. It’s seriously time for a divorce. #Truth.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Another Rural Life Lesson

May 9th, 2023

I had an entirely different article planned for today, but then came the moths. Yes, the moths. “Miller moths” to be exact. And no, I had no idea what a Miller moth was before moving to the rural Texas panhandle. And frankly, I wish I still didn’t know. My only experience with moths prior to this has been the random butterfly-like moth that one occasionally finds dead on a windowsill or in a small group clustering around a patio light on a warm summer night. The horror show unfolding at my house is a far cry from that.

According to a few articles I read, Miller moths are army cutworm moths that are generally harmless but considered nuisance pests, especially in rural areas. In talking with some locals, I learned we are experiencing a particularly bad infestation of moths this year, due to a very dry winter and the recent rainfall during the past couple of weeks. Supposedly it only gets this bad once every few years, and I can say with absolute certainty that I don’t recall having a moth infestation at my house last year, so this experience is completely new for me.

During the larvae stage, these moths live in fields and vegetation, and they accumulate and migrate by the millions (yes, the MILLIONS) in locations where there are multiple crops being grown, especially alfalfa. While I don’t grow crops on my property, I do have a stack of alfalfa bales for my livestock, and I live next to several cattle farms, a sheep farm, and a goat farm, so my area is clearly prime infestation real estate.

For the past week, every time I go to feed my horse or the goats, and I separate a few flakes of alfalfa, I’m met with a nest of 50-100 moths that frantically fly up into my face, unhappy to have been disturbed. I’ve come to accept this as a part of “farm life.” But as the infestation grows in size and expands beyond my barn and into the house, my acceptance is quickly dwindling and becoming replaced by panic and anxiety.

My realization of the extent of the problem started when I found out Miller moths thrive in dark places, like the dead space under the cover for my rowing machine. I made this very unfortunate discovery last weekend when I had to move my rower across the yard to make room for having part of my backyard fence repaired. Upon lifting the cover, literally thousands of these winged beasts came rising up from under the cover like a plague of epic proportions. I shit you not, I was so terrified that I literally dropped the cover and screamed, as hundreds of these creatures swarmed around me and became tangled in my hair in their haste to disperse in the sunlight.

Even more traumatic was the day last week that I walked by the shed and saw hundreds of moths fluttering in front of the windows, from the INSIDE of the shed. I knew that if I was seeing that many moths through the windows, there were likely thousands more deeper inside. Do I let them stay in there to collect and breed and hopefully die in a few weeks, or do I open the door so they fly away? Foolishly, I chose to open the door. As with the rowing machine incident the day before, I was thrust into a winged nightmare that had me running across the front yard flailing my arms and screaming as hundreds and hundreds of moths rose up around me in every direction. Yes, I was terrified.

As darkness begins to fall each night, thousands of moths descend en masse all over my house. They are on the posts lining the front and back porch. They are on the eaves of the overhang. They are on the window screens. They are in the grass. They are nestled in the cushions of my lawn furniture. They are fucking everywhere. But most disturbingly, they are making their way inside my house.

Now, I’m not talking about a few moths flying sneaking inside when I let the dogs in or out. That would be normal and acceptable. I’m talking about these clever winged devils making their way into my home through the unsealed cracks and crevices I didn’t know were accessible from the outside. Moths have started coming through my vents. The kitchen vents. The bedroom vents. The bathroom vents. The living room vents. And not just the vents, but somehow they have found their way through some of my light fixtures, particularly the light fixture in my bathroom.

I am afraid to open the hatch to my attic. The idea makes me shudder. I know there must be thousands of them up there. Maybe millions. How else would they be so plentiful as to be flying through my HVAC vents and light fixtures all night?? I will wait until they perish in the harsh summer heat before I go anywhere near my attic ladder.

Every night has become a battle. Me with my tennis racket bug zapper and a bowl of soapy water, going through the house swatting at my tormenters. I kill one and twenty more descend in its wake. And no, I am not exaggerating. I have pictures and a vacuum container full of dead moths to prove it.

Yes, I actually took my vacuum outside to try and suck some of these fuckers off my porch posts because there were so many of them crawling around where the top of the posts meet the roof eave that I couldn’t even see the wood under their hoards of bodies. And yes, I know that most of them just flew away and came back when I was done with my vacuum homicide drill, but I still take comfort in the fact that at least a hundred or so met their demise.

My home has been invaded to the point where I am losing sleep from staying up far too late on these nightly killing sprees. And when I finally do get to bed and manage to fall asleep, they are in my dreams. When I wake up, they greet me from the corners of my high ceiling where they know I can’t reach them, and as the morning light increases, they disappear back into the attic through the ceiling vents and light boxes, re-appearing once again at sunset to torture me as darkness descends.

How much longer will this go on? Days? Weeks? Supposedly Miller moths either die or migrate away to cooler climates within 3-6 weeks. This is only week two… On the bright side, at least they are fairly benign, and they don’t get into human food or chew holes in your clothes. I mean, that’s a plus. And according to some folks at my gym who grew up in this area, next year will be a totally different infestation. Beetles perhaps. Or possibly crickets. Maybe tarantulas again. Apparently one year it was frogs.

All I know is that as soon as the population plaguing my attic either dies or escapes on their happy migratory way away from my house, I will be spray foam insulating the fuck out of my attic. And hopefully getting back to sleep at a normal hour instead of angrily chasing moths late into the night with a small electrified tennis racket.

But despite this inconvenient and sometimes slightly terrifying experience, along with my recent unexpected snake adventure, and dealing with the other critters and creatures that come with rural living, I truly love this life, and I wouldn’t trade it to go back to city living. So I’ll keep battling the moths until they eventually go away, and who knows, maybe next year it will be something like an overpopulation of bunnies. I think I could handle that, right?

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Being Unapologetic

April 25th, 2023

I started this post a few months ago and ended up putting it on the back burner because I felt like it was unfinished and didn’t have a solid ending. I’ve looked at it multiple times since then, frowning at my computer screen and thinking I should have something more powerful or impactful to add before sending it out into the world, especially because this particular topic is the foundation of why I started this blog in the first place. But honestly, I’m tired of repeatedly looking at it. So, rather than lamenting the fact that this isn’t the literary masterpiece I originally intended it to be, I’m just gonna hit “Publish” and be done with it. I’d apologize for the shitty abrupt ending, but then that would defeat the whole purpose of this post now, wouldn’t it? Plus, I think we can all agree that the posts I write are often way too long anyway, so accept this as a gift of brevity.

What does it actually mean to be unapologetic? According to Dictionary.com, it means “not accepting fault or blame.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines unapologetic as “not sorry about having caused someone problems or unhappiness.” Wiktionary similarly defines unapologetic as “not apologetic for having said or done something that causes actual or potential harm, especially when being apologetic would be appropriate.” And the Urban Dictionary describes being unapologetic as “to be careless and not give a fuck after a certain situation.” Well, my definition of unapologetic doesn’t mean any of this shit.

For me, being unapologetic means fully and authentically embracing who I am and being true to my principles and beliefs, without having to explain or justify myself to others. It means not needing or wanting to present a false or edited version of myself in order to get people to like me. It means not compromising my own self-respect just to please others or to avoid confrontation. It means saying “no” and not caving to pressure from others when something is out of alignment with my core values.

Being unapologetic means recognizing and acknowledging what I will and won’t accept in my life. It means not allowing myself to feel guilty when I have to do the hard shit like letting go of people, relationships, and careers that no longer serve me. It means putting my self-worth ahead of needing to placate or make accommodations for people who don’t fit into the plan I have for my life. It means accepting that other people’s feelings, opinions, and criticisms aren’t my problem or my responsibility because the only thing I can control in my life is me.

Being unapologetic means taking accountability for my actions and behaviors and not placing blame or making excuses when I mess something up or when I don’t follow through on commitments I make to myself and others. It means outright owning my shit and accepting full responsibility for my life, taking the necessary steps to course-correct when I’m not happy with the outcomes I’m producing. It means trusting my instincts and not second-guessing myself. If I fuck up, I’ll fix it.

Being unapologetic means freedom in creating my own path in life. It means refusing to feel bad or guilty for the way I choose to live my life or the decisions that I make. It’s okay if others are disappointed in me and my choices because I’m not seeking their approval or validation to begin with. I’m making choices and doing what I believe is best for me, going after MY dreams and goals, not the dreams and goals that other people think I should be going after.

Being unapologetic means having the unwavering faith, personal conviction, and courage to stand strong in my own power and be the embodiment of my beliefs, even in the face of ridicule, fearmongering, and cancel culture. It means living and speaking my beliefs proudly. Out loud and with no hesitation, regrets, or remorse. Like the name of this blog and the podcast, I am “Unapologetically Outspoken.”

And I happily make no apologies for that.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Playing Full Out

April 11th, 2023

Before I dive into this week’s article, no, I’m not slacking on the blog. I spent the past couple of weeks visiting family and going on a road trip, and I decided to just have fun and give myself a short break from everything except the podcast while I was gone. But, as they say, the party is over, and it’s back to the grind. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, because as much as I enjoyed that reprieve, I fucking love the grind.

At the beginning of the year, I wrote an article called “Mindset, Baby, Mindset,” where I talked about how I was going to kick things up a notch in 2023. I set the intention to focus on winning this year and not allow myself to make or accept excuses for giving up on my goals. I also talked about how my priorities were going to be centered around continuous growth, learning, and self-development, as well as following my passions and consistently aligning my habits and behaviors with an attitude of success.

Since starting my self-development journey about 2 years ago, I’ve realized that the more things I attempt that are out of my comfort zone, the more I’m driven to want to take myself and my life to the next level. I’ve mentioned in past articles that writing this blog and co-hosting the podcast have been completely life-changing for me. Publicly sharing my life and speaking out about my values and beliefs was something I thought I would never do, but I have since grown to become completely passionate about these projects. And, after completing my first round of “75 Hard” last September, I realized I also have the discipline to commit to habits I didn’t think I could be consistent with.

So, this year I decided I was going to continue to do shit that makes me uncomfortable and challenges me to become better. Instead of just listening to inspiring podcasts and reading self-development books, I set the intention to take a more active approach to upleveling my life and consistently striving for new levels of personal excellence and contribution. Fuck mediocrity. I’m playing full out in my life. So, the question is, am I following through with these commitments and bold statements? Let’s consider this a first quarter check-in…

I started the year off with a bang, simultaneously committing to a second round of “75 Hard” and Rob Dial Jr.’s 31-day “Limitless” Challenge in January. In retrospect, I suppose it was slightly overambitious (and probably a bit stupid), taking on two fairly demanding programs at the same time. But, hey, go big or go home right? I was going big. Fortunately, a lot of the tasks overlapped. Both programs involved daily tasks that included 45-minute workouts, reading, no alcohol, sticking to a diet, and drinking a gallon of water. “Limitless” also involved journaling, meditation, and participating in daily Facebook video challenge chats.

I decided I wanted to do something to give back and volunteer within my community, so I joined a local Soroptimist chapter in January, committing myself to bi-monthly lunch meetings and various other community-involved projects. I also found myself volunteering to take over managing the group’s social media accounts, which, if you know anything about me and my lack of creative social media skills, is completely laughable, but I’m doing it anyway.

Towards the end of January, I got an email announcing that the Arete Syndicate was going to be considering new members. Arete is an incredible community of highly successful elite entrepreneurs and people who are dedicated to being a force for good in this world and dominating at life. It’s like a network of personal excellence and empire-builders, led by Andy Frisella and Ed Mylett. I had attended a virtual livestream event last year, and ever since then I had been wanting to apply for membership. But, I held myself back from even entertaining the possibility because I’m not a highly successful entrepreneur (or even an entrepreneur at all), so I told myself I wasn’t good enough to apply.

However, this is the year of playing full out, stepping out of my comfort zone, and focusing on personal excellence with no excuses, so fuck it, I applied. And after a nail-biting week of hoping my essay was good enough for consideration, holy shit, I got accepted. When I received the email, I was literally so excited I was bouncing off the walls like a kid in a candy store. It’s been a couple months, and I’m still trying to navigate through some of my limiting beliefs about feeling like I don’t belong in the group since I’m not a successful entrepreneur, but I’m soaking up every bit of knowledge I can, and I feel confident that the Universe put this opportunity in my path for a reason, and something really fucking incredible is going to come out of it.

Shortly after getting accepted into Arete, I decided to take on a 5-day Tony Robbins challenge in February called “Become Unshakeable.” Despite my interest in personal development, in truth, participating in a Tony Robbins seminar is something I NEVER thought I would do. I grew up watching Tony’s infomercials on late night TV as a kid over 30 years ago, and I’ve always thought the whole thing was a little cultish. Then again, personal development in general is a little cultish for people who don’t believe, isn’t it? Well, since starting my own self-development journey a couple years ago, I can readily admit I’ve become a believer.

I don’t know what I was expecting heading into this virtual seminar. I had signed up at the last minute, and it was only a few hours a day, so I multitasked a lot of the program while I was at work. To be honest, I wasn’t fully committed during the process, and I ended up watching most of the content on replays after it was over. I didn’t participate in the physical components of the program at all, but I was fascinated and in awe watching the people on screen who did. Jumping around and dancing and yelling in front of my computer screen for thousands of people to see was just not something I was okay with doing. And, I had the great excuse that I was at work, so I couldn’t do that anyway. But then, if I wasn’t going to participate, then why the fuck was I doing it at all?

As with almost all self-development programs and seminars, the upsell for Tony Robbins’ infamous “Unleash the Power Within” program (otherwise known as “UPW”) was introduced during the second or third day of “Become Unshakeable.” And yeah, I got sucked in and decided to commit to that too. I told myself I was going to play full out, so I took 2 days off work to make sure I wouldn’t have any excuses or distractions.

I’m not gonna lie. To say UPW was intense would be a severe understatement. I don’t really even know how to describe it. It was simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting on all levels – mentally, physically, and psychologically. Four days, 12-15 hours each, with very minimal breaks the first two days. I barely had time to run out to the stables to feed the horses and goats. Tony Robbins is insane. In a good way. I don’t know how one person can have that much energy. I guess that’s why he’s the number one motivational coach in the world and has created an empire that’s not only lasted, but also grown exponentially over the past 40 years. Watching him was truly impressive.

Throughout the program, I maintained my commitment to play full out. I repeatedly danced, jumped around, and screamed more in those four days than I probably have my entire life. I quite literally unleashed the power within me, oftentimes with such an intensity that I think my dogs were confused and scared. If I had neighbors, they probably would have called the cops out of concern. I stayed up way past my bedtime each night, and I burned more calories in those four days than I would in a month of CrossFit. I’m not even joking. Thankfully, my last day of my most recent round of “75 Hard” ended on the first day of UPW because I really didn’t have the bandwidth to do much else but focus on the seminar throughout the four days. I don’t know how anyone could possibly go through this process and not experience some kind of transformation. I think it’s literally designed to wear you down physically in order to impact your mindset.

My headlong rush into challenging myself to strive for excellence also resulting in what I still think was a very questionable decision to commit myself to posting weekly short “inspirational” selfie videos on Facebook and Instagram for an entire year as a way to challenge myself to step further out of my comfort zone. I have no idea if anyone is actually inspired by these little segments, and frankly, the whole process of doing selfie videos makes me cringe. I guess that’s the whole point, though. Doing shit that makes you push through the discomfort.

And finally, right before I went on vacation, I made a fairly last-minute decision to renew my CrossFit Level 1 Trainer credential because, hey, why not add coaching to my ever-growing list of activities? Honestly, this wasn’t on my radar at all, but when one of the coaches at my gym told me there was going to be a local training seminar, and I could get it done in one weekend and only have to drive 30 minutes away, I took that as a sign that this was something I should be doing. Never mind that I’ve been nursing a shoulder and neck injury for a few weeks, and I was wholly unprepared and had to cram study a 300-page manual for a written exam in 2 days. Fuck it, right? I jumped in and played full out. The Universe must have been on my side because I passed the written exam.

So, here we are, at the start of April, and I feel like I’ve been doing a pretty decent job of pushing myself out of my comfort zone in my ongoing quest for personal excellence. There have been a few bumps in the road, but instead of making excuses, I just fix my shit and get back on track. Throughout it all, I’ve continued working full-time, spending several hours each week doing podcast research, writing blog articles, recording podcast episodes, taking care of my ever-growing menagerie of animals and responsibilities, and mapping out other projects I’m committed to accomplishing.

Am I a little overambitious? Maybe. But my journey so far has been incredible, and despite the stress of taking on a ton of shit all at once, I’ve loved the challenge. Yeah, I still have a few limiting beliefs about myself and my ability to become the successful entrepreneur I know I’m destined to be, but I’m working on my mindset every day, and as long as I keep playing full out in my life and taking steps towards fulfilling my dreams, I know I’m going to make shit happen.

So, that’s my update. I’ve already taken on my next big self-development project, and I’m excited to see where that goes. I’ll keep y’all posted.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Celebrating Women… Are We Really, Though?

March 14th, 2023

I wasn’t going to write about Women’s History Month for the blog since Stephanie and I did a podcast episode on it last week, but the more ridiculous woke shit I keep seeing, the more I’m unable to keep my mouth shut about it. I try to keep my articles fairly inspirational most of the time, but I’m pretty sure this one is going to make me look like an asshole. So be it.

In case anyone reading this is part of the woke mob (which I doubt because I don’t think anyone woke is following this blog in the first place), let me make it clear that I don’t have a problem whatsoever with transgender adults. My only issue is with pushing gender affirming care or surgery on confused minors who are too young to vote or buy alcohol, much less make life altering decisions about their bodies. Manipulating children and teens into being pawns in experiments that cause irreversible physical and psychological damage is criminal. I definitely have a problem with that. But if you’re an adult who doesn’t feel comfortable in your body, and you want to transition to the opposite sex, by all means – you do you.

During my teens and early 20’s, I was one of those “emo” kids in the goth and punk scene. I grew up hanging out with a variety of LGBT friends (there was no “nonbinary” or QIA+XYZ nonsense back them). I experimented with my sexuality. I went to Pride Parades. I had a major crush on an exquisite transgender go-go dancer at Club Cherry in West Hollywood, a place I frequented almost every weekend in the late 1990’s. He was so beautiful, I got excited if his sweat touched me on the dance floor.

As an adult, I worked closely with the transgender community in Hollywood when I was a law enforcement officer, and I always treated everyone with kindness, dignity, and respect. One of my favorite partners I ever had on the job was an openly gay male. So if you think I’m coming from the perspective of a far right-wing Conservative who doesn’t accept or support the LGBT community, you clearly don’t know me.

But let’s face facts. Or, I guess more accurately, my opinion. If you are a man who identifies as a woman or undergoes gender affirming care or surgery to transition to a female, that’s fine by me. But I don’t think you should be celebrated during Women’s History Month. There is already an entire month dedicated to LGBTQIA+XYZABC Pride. Is this not enough?? Must you take over Women’s History Month, too?

The purpose of Women’s History Month is to celebrate and honor the contributions women have made to society throughout history. There are literally thousands and thousands of legitimate biological women who are trailblazers and doing amazing and incredible things in this world. Shouldn’t we be celebrating them? Why are we denying actual women their hard-earned right to be represented, praised, and commemorated?

As a biological female, I don’t want to see a “nonbinary” or transgender dude trying to sell me tampons. Periods are not for “people.” They are part of the menstrual cycle experienced solely by biological women with uteruses.

I don’t want to have DEI principles shoved down my throat or embrace being inclusive by cheering on a college campus for changing the word “women” in a Women’s History Month celebration to the totally ridiculous made up word “Womynx” in order to be more inviting to non-biological women. What the hell is a non-biological woman?? A man.

I don’t want to celebrate and uplift a transgender athlete for beating out an entire team of biological female competitors. Of course you won. You’re stronger, faster, and built completely differently. You should be ashamed of yourself for even competing against women and being proud of this accomplishment.

I don’t want to hear an overweight transgender clown in an admiral’s uniform representing the U.S. Public Health Service telling me about the importance of women’s health and dieting for the month of March. Also, you should be equally ashamed of yourself for accepting the honor of being named one of USA Today’s women of the year in 2022. I guess there weren’t any biological women worthy of celebrating last year either?? And by the way, you look absolutely ridiculous in that uniform.

I don’t want to watch the First Lady (or as Sleepy Joe often refers to his wife, the “President”) give the 2023 International Woman of Courage Award to a transgender activist in Argentina who identifies as a woman on International Women’s Day. Again, are there not any qualified biological women in the entire world to earn this honor?

And I don’t want to see advertisements for “HerSHEy” bars promoting Women’s History Month by having a transgender dressed like an extra out of the 80’s movie “Working Girl” excitedly chattering about how this month is for “us.” No, it’s not for “us.” It’s for me. Your month is in June.

To reiterate, I am not bashing the transgender community. I support and applaud you for embracing your true self and being the version of you that you’re most comfortable and happy with! But I don’t support or applaud you for taking the spotlight away from all of the deserving kick-ass biological women who should be honored and celebrated for their accomplishments and achievements during Women’s History Month.

Stop being selfish fucks. Just stop it already.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Supporting Patriotic Entrepreneurs

February 28th, 2023

I guess this week’s post can be classified as more of an opportunity or perhaps an advertisement as opposed to an article… The podcast has been going strong, thanks in large part to Stephanie’s incredible efforts with our social media. It’s been almost 6 months now, and despite the influence of cancel culture, our audience continues to grow. We’ve had incredibly positive feedback, and we’ve found support in the most unlikely places (TikTok anyone???).

Throughout this journey, I’ve learned how truly supportive and awesome the podcast community is. We’ve had the privilege of hosting some pretty inspiring and knowledgeable guests, and I’ve connected with really cool people I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to get to know.

I never imagined I would love co-hosting a podcast so much, but it has become a project that I am completely passionate about, and now I can’t imagine not doing it. Speaking out and being an inspiration and a voice for others has honestly been one of the most thrilling and fulfilling things I’ve done in my life. A far cry from the chick who wanted nothing to do with social media or being in the public eye!

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that there seems to be an endless supply of shit to talk about, as Clown Show Administration continues to utilize divisive politics to defile America from within while dragging us closer and closer to the inevitability of WWIII. It’s not difficult to want to speak out when you feel your country is being purposefully destroyed. However, “wanting” and “doing” are two different things. Thoughts vs actions. And when you are actually “doing,” it requires you to step into the muck and get a little dirty while sifting facts from propaganda and trying to find answers.

As much as I love getting dirty doing this podcast, sometimes I also get overwhelmed by frustration, anger, and worry because my eyes have been opened to all of the crazy shit happening that most people want to ignore or believe doesn’t exist. Stephanie and I try to inject humor into the podcast to lighten it up a bit, but honestly, a lot of what’s happening right now is so dark that humor only goes so far.

Putting out content focused on positivity, self-development, and mindset on Mondays helps to balance the scales a bit, but by the time Friday rolls around, it’s back to discussing the doom and gloom of Biden’s “America Last” policies and the impending and escalating threat of another world war. So, in an effort to bring a more positive spin to some of our “Freedom Fridays,” we are starting a new series on the podcast focused on highlighting patriotic American small businesses and entrepreneurs!

Once a month, we will be interviewing a business owner or self-made entrepreneur who successfully pursued the American dream. Our goal is to have a conversation about the positive aspects of how and why they started their business, the struggles or obstacles they’ve faced with standing up as a patriotic American company in the face of cancel culture, and how their business is contributing to inspiring or helping others level up their own lives.

If you are an entrepreneur who fits this category and you want to come on the podcast to promote your business (or if you know someone else who would be interested), please reach out and contact us via email:

weareunapologeticallyoutspoken@gmail.com

You can also send us a message via Instagram or Facebook.

We’d love to help bring positive attention to your company, especially if you are just starting out and looking to attract like-minded clients. If you are already an established business owner, this is a great opportunity to inspire struggling entrepreneurs by highlighting your success! Come on, don’t be shy…

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
How the “Country Life” is Helping Me Level Up

February 14th, 2023

Growing up in and around the bustling urban mecca of Los Angeles, I never thought I would end up living in a rural area. In fact, I don’t know that I ever saw a farm or a ranch until I was in my mid-teens and I was sent to visit my step-brother, who lived on an old mink farm in Oregon. Even then, it wasn’t a functional farm at the time, and there were no other animals aside from the family dog, so I guess that doesn’t really count.

As a child, I loved horses, and like most kids, I frequently declared “I want a pony!” when asked what I wanted for my birthday or Christmas. For several years, most likely as a way to get rid of me for two weeks and have some time for themselves, my parents sent me to a YMCA camp during summer. In addition to polar bear swims, learning archery, and making lanyard keychains and bracelets, my summer camp included horseback riding, which only fueled my desire for a “pony.” However, having a horse was really just a pipe dream – a childhood fantasy. It was never anything I expected to become a reality.

That is, until I had the opportunity to join the Mounted Platoon when I was an LAPD officer. From the first moment I stepped into the LAPD mounted facility (which, by the way, I was a cop for at least 7 years before I even knew LAPD had a 2-acre equine facility with a 40-stall barn and a large covered arena in the middle of a residential neighborhood…), my entire life changed. I still didn’t know jack shit about rural living, but I was about to find out how to ride and take care of horses.

I want to preface the rest of this article by saying that when I discovered the Mounted Platoon, I was at a point in my life where I absolutely detested country music, cowboys, and anything remotely related to “country life.” As much as I was excited to be around horses, it was a culture shock to be thrown into the world of wearing cowboy boots and a cowboy hat as part of my daily uniform. For months, I felt like a fraud and was totally embarrassed walking through the halls of a police station or going into a restaurant to eat, with my spurs clanging and the ever-present smell of horse sweat emanating from my clothes. But eventually, not only did I get used to it, I also fully embraced it.

I was already in my early 40’s when I was accepted into the Mounted Platoon, and as much as I was in decent shape from years of CrossFit and weight training, learning how to ride a horse challenged my body and my mind in ways I never anticipated. I spent countless hours being tested in the arena, pushing both myself and my assigned horse to limits I never imagined. From having barrel races against my platoon mates, to playing broomball and basketball, to herding cattle, to traversing treacherous terrain on trail rides, to navigating traffic on the streets of Los Angeles, to keeping both myself and my horse calm during protests and chaotic “hoof” pursuits, every day was a learning experience and a new adventure. And I loved every minute of it.

Even though my assigned horse belonged to the city, and we had a civilian farrier and on-call vet always available, I was responsible for the daily care and maintenance of my horse, including grooming duties and cleaning stalls. I also had to do rotational overnight security shifts once or twice a month, where I was responsible for feeding the 30-35 horses on site and standing by for any emergencies that may occur.

Despite the often high-stress environment that comes with being a police officer, I found a total sense of calm and inner peace being at the barn. I enjoyed cleaning stalls and doing barn duties, and I even enjoyed coming back to the barn at midnight after the end of a long shift to wrap my horse’s hind limbs because he had cellulitis and his legs would swell if they weren’t wrapped religiously.

The more I fell in love with “barn life,” the more I began to develop a tolerance for country music and the self-acceptance that I actually did secretly enjoy wearing cowboy boots, and I loved the sound of my spurs. I also began to desire a “real” country life, and not just the few hours of simulated country life I experienced while being at the barn every day.

When I left LAPD and moved to Washington State, I wasn’t yet ready for a true rural existence, but I did make the leap of moving from a thriving metropolitan city to a small lakeside community that was in the middle of a fairly remote area in the western part of the state. So, I guess you could say I found a midway point to kind of test the waters of leaving city life. While living in Washington, I volunteered at a horse rescue every Saturday, so rain or shine (mostly rain), I threw on my muck boots and got to work shoveling shit for several hours, sometimes getting the opportunity to ride for an hour or so afterwards.

I thought I was immersing myself in country living, or at least the romanticized version of country living that I had in my head, but it wasn’t until I moved to a rural area of the Texas Panhandle and got myself a few farm animals that I truly started to understand what real country living entails.

No, I don’t have a large herd of cattle or a sheep farm. I don’t grow corn or cotton or engage in any profitable commercial agricultural ventures. I don’t live on a working ranch or have acres and acres of property and livestock to take care of. But I do have a couple acres with a few horses and some goats, and I live in unincorporated country outside of city limits. So, I suppose the term “country living” may seem like an exaggeration, but for a city girl, this is most definitely country living for me.

After spending nearly 15 years as a cop, and the preceding 10 years in the fire service, I thought I had grit, tenacity, and hard work pretty much nailed down, but this “country life” is humbly teaching me a whole new level of responsibility, dedication, and the real meaning of “work.”

My first winter in the Texas panhandle was a definitely culture shock, as I’d always lived in areas with fairly moderate temperatures, rarely dropping below 40 degrees F. I also didn’t have any farm animals for the first year that I lived here, so aside from letting my dogs out to go to the bathroom, I really didn’t have to spend much time outdoors if I didn’t want to. That all changed when I decided to get a couple of goats, and then a horse.

When I initially bought my horse, I was keeping him on a friend’s property, and winter hadn’t quite set in, so dropping by to feed him every day wasn’t too big of a deal. However, within a few weeks, my boarding circumstances changed unexpectedly, and I ended up bringing my horse to my house, along with two other horses. So, at the start of winter this year, I had a small menagerie of livestock to take care of.

I thought cleaning stalls and taking care of horses in an indoor barn in sunny southern California was “work.” Then, when I moved to Washington, I thought cleaning outdoor stalls and taking care of horses in the rain was “work.” I have since learned that those chores were a cakewalk compared to taking care of horses and goats in the winter of the Texas panhandle…

It’s snowing and 8 degrees F…? Too bad, your animals still need to be fed. Bundle up and take care of it.

The water pipes and the hose to the barn are frozen solid…? Too bad, your animals need fresh water. Figure it out and get some water, even if you have to go purchase 20 gallons from the store.

You finally figured out that sometimes only the water hose is frozen and the pump is still operational, so you think you’re finally getting smart by having a couple of 3-gallon jugs inside the house filled and ready to go, but when you go out to the barn to top off the buckets, you see the water is all frozen solid and the animals have nothing to drink because it dropped down to 9 degrees F overnight…? Too bad, guess you’d better get out that axe and start breaking up the ice. And then expect to spend the next 45 minutes making trips back and forth from the water pump to the barn to fill the buckets.

There’s a wind chill of -12 degrees F and your toes and fingers feel frostbitten despite wearing two pairs of wool socks and insulated “weatherproof” gloves…? Too bad, go clean the stalls. And you better put that blanket on your horse while you’re at it.

You forgot to disconnect the hose and now frozen water is backed up into the pump…? Too bad, go fill 3-gallon jugs in the bathtub and make six trips back and forth to the barn.

It’s 21 degrees F out with 40 mph winds that make it feel like 10 degrees F and tumbleweeds are consistently flying past your face and smacking you in the legs…? Too bad, go unload 40 bales of alfalfa and grass, 3-4 bales at a time for 2 hours.

You have cuts on your hands that won’t heal because you keep having to do manual labor chores outside…? Too bad, buy some more bandaids.

You’ve been sick for over a week, and all you want to do is curl up in bed and sleep all day…? Too bad, your horse needs to be exercised in the round pen. And the water hose is frozen again. Better get your ass up and get to work.

I could give several more examples, but you get the point. Animals don’t care if you’re sick or busy or your hands hurt or you’re running late for work. They don’t care if it’s hot or cold, rain or shine, snow or wind. They don’t even care if their fur / coats are covered in a layer of mini icicles… they still want food and water, and they still need to be taken care of.

It probably sounds like I’m complaining, but I’m honestly not. I’m merely stating the very humbling facts I’ve been learning while fumbling my way through getting accustomed to rural living. And the truth is that I fucking love this life!!

Okay, maybe I don’t love the part where my hands go numb from the cold, and it takes an hour to warm back up, and the cuts on my fingers never seem to heal. But I do love the actual physical and mental work involved with having a mini farm and having to suck it up and deal with whatever the weather happens to be that day. I love the exhilarating feeling of cleaning stalls when it’s so cold that I can see my breath in the air. I love breaking up ice in the water buckets (again) and feeling itchy from alfalfa in my bra, even though I was wearing a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt, and a jacket, and I have no idea how alfalfa even found its way there. I love kissing on my horse and feeding him treats while rubbing ice crystals off his whiskers. I love the annoying bleating of my goats who couldn’t care less about the weather and start crying for food as soon as they see me.

More than anything, I love the satisfied feeling that I experience every day by having the honor and privilege of taking care of these amazing animals. And I love how taking on these responsibilities has forced me to level up my life and stay consistent with the challenge of not only facing, but also embracing, my discomforts and stepping into a new levels of mental and physical strength on a daily basis.

Am I living the true definition of “country life?” Maybe not. But for a city girl, it sure feels like it. The next step is a few chickens. Probably another horse. Possibly a mini donkey. If I had a few more acres, I’d add a couple cows to the mix… Ask me in a year and we’ll see where I’m at. Until then, I think I’ll be kept plenty busy this winter doing farmer carries with water jugs back and forth to the barn.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
A Shadowbox of Failures… Roadblocks or Detours?

January 31st, 2023

This past December, I had the pleasure and the honor of being a guest on a podcast called “The Distinguished Savage” with Walt Settlemyre. We made a great connection, and I started diving into some of his previous episodes, one of which was an interview with a guy named Dustin Wright. During the conversation, Dustin was talking about hunting, and he made a joke about creating a shadowbox of failures, representing his hunting mishaps, like broken arrows from inaccurate shots and unused deer tags that went to waste.

Upon hearing this analogy, I laughed out loud because a shadowbox is something highly revered in law enforcement, the military, and the fire service. It’s a very traditional gift that is typically presented to someone upon retirement, where their badges, service medals, commendations, and other meaningful career highlights and achievements are all displayed neatly in a large deep-set picture frame that can be mounted on the wall, so you get to look at it every day and pretend your career was awesome instead of 20+ years of depression and anger that now haunt you for life. I’m kidding… Sort of.

Anyway, I started thinking about this concept – “Shadowbox of Failures.” I still think it’s funny as hell, but my first thought was, “Fuck that. I don’t want a shadowbox of failures; I want a shadowbox of wins.”

But is it possible to look at my failures as actually being wins…?

If you asked me this question a few years ago, I would have said absolutely not, especially when it came to failures in my career and my relationships. There were countless times in my fire service and law enforcement careers when I struggled with completing a required skill, failed a shooting qual, or didn’t get selected for a particular assignment I really wanted. There were the mistakes I made in my dating relationships and my previous marriage. I looked at these situations and events as cringe-worthy disappointments and missed opportunities. Basically, I looked at failure as something devastating and embarrassing – something to be ashamed of that I wanted to bury in the past and forget.

However, the more I focused on shifting my mindset with this self-development journey I’ve been on, the more I realized that my attitude was bullshit. I started to understand that my approach to failure came from a place of insecurity, lack, and negativity rather than from a viewpoint of seeing my circumstances as amazing possibilities for growth.

Can failure be humiliating and demoralizing? Sure. But, looking at your failures from a lens of pure negativity and shame is a wasted opportunity. In all honesty, many of my “failures” actually ended up opening doors for life-changing wins that I never would have even considered or dreamed of if I hadn’t failed in my original goal.

Realistically, you have two options in life: You can allow your failures to become roadblocks that stop you from growing, accepting stagnation and defeat. Or you can see your failures as detours and opportunities to pursue different avenues of growth, stepping into new levels of greatness. With the right mindset, your failures can actually lead to some incredible possibilities and inspirations when you look at them from the perspective of turning fails into wins.

I used to hit roadblocks. Now I see a multitude of amazing detours. Strive for a life where you end up with a huge shadowbox of accomplishments instead of a shadowbox of failures. Choose the detours.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara
Nostalgia and Patriotism on the Big Screen

January 17th, 2023

I’ve decided to do a film review of sorts for today’s blog article. I guess it’s actually more of a commentary, and not necessarily a review. Regardless, I will preface this article with the disclaimer that when it comes to movie releases, I am way behind the curve. If you asked me to name even one movie playing in theaters right now, I wouldn’t have a clue.

I suppose this is slightly ironic considering I used to have to watch movies for a living. Back in my early 20’s, I worked for a high-ranking executive in the film marketing division for Walt Disney Studios. I have no idea how Disney operates now, but at the time, there were 3 major motion picture companies that fell under the Disney umbrella, so it wasn’t just kid-friendly animated films. Disney released major motion pictures under the Miramax, Touchstone, and Pixar labels as well.

My boss was responsible for deciding which movies got made and which ones didn’t, so multitudes of producers, directors, and actors were in our office on the daily, kissing ass to get their films approved. I was merely a junior assistant, but one of the perks of the job was getting VHS (yes, this was before the days of DVD’s and Blue Ray…) screener copies of movies before they were released in the theaters.

This was particularly exciting during Oscar season because all the prominent movie studios would send their Academy Award contenders to each other. So, aside from Disney-produced films, I got to watch all of the impending releases from major studios like Warner Brothers, Paramount, 20^th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, DreamWorks, Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures, and United Artists.

Even after I left the film industry, I used to love going to the movie theater and experiencing blockbuster films on the big screen. In fact, I loved it so much that I would often go to the movies by myself. One of my favorite things to do on a day off was to hit a matinee show mid-week, when only a handful of people were there. I would order a large tub of popcorn and a package of Red Vines, pick a perfect seat smack in the middle of the theater with nobody near me, and settle in for 2 hours of getting lost in an awesome story. By the end of the movie, the popcorn tub and the Red Vines package would be empty, and I’d be sick to my stomach, but I couldn’t wait to go back the following week for another big screen adventure.

Flash forward 20 years later, and I don’t even have cable television. Go figure…

Sadly, I must confess that I haven’t been to a movie theater in probably 5 or 6 years. These days, I don’t end up seeing movies until they wind up on Netflix, Paramount+, Amazon Prime Video, or my HBO Max app. And even then, it’s hard to find something I want to watch.

I still love movies, but I’m tired of being inundated with politically correct propaganda that has been on the rise in mainstream movies over the past decade. I want to watch a movie to get lost in an epic adventure or a love story or a thrilling mystery! I don’t want to watch movies to have ad nauseam underlying themes of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), sexually confused relationships, anti-American sentiment, overly sexualized children, and political agendas shoved down my throat.

Maybe I sound like one of the old people I used to criticize when I was younger, but I miss the good old days where being American was celebrated on the big screen, our country was portrayed positively, characters freely made inappropriate comments and off-color jokes because they were funny, and nobody got offended or complained that a race, gender, or culture was being underrepresented or misappropriated.

I’m a huge fan of the early black and white films, but I’d have to say my favorite movie genre is the 1980’s. In fact, I spent much of this past Christmas holiday on an 80’s movie binge, watching classics like “Pretty in Pink,” “Overboard,” “Working Girl,” “Lost Boys,” “Trading Places,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Young Guns,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.” I’m not a film critic, but these are fucking great movies!!

Anyway, like most people who love 80’s flicks, I’m a fan of the original “Top Gun.” When the sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick” was released last May, I had no interest in watching it, as I assumed it would be another movie ruined by politically correct propaganda. Plus, sequels are rarely as good as the original, and this was 30 years after the fact, so my expectations were low. However, people kept telling me it was a great movie, so when it finally came out in December on Paramount+, I decided to give it a shot.

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. Watching this movie was just as good as watching the 80’s original, only with better special effects. It was a feel-good, nostalgic, all-American movie with great action scenes, a sidebar romance that wasn’t overly sexualized, and witty, sarcastic characters who bonded in friendship over being high achievers and talked shit to each other without getting offended.

More surprisingly, our military was presented in a competent and positive light without any CRT or DEI bullshit convoluting the storyline, and even though the “enemy” was never named, there was a very old-school sense of patriotism and loyalty throughout the movie as a whole. Overall, I thought it was a refreshing and entertaining non-political, yet pro-America movie, and I really enjoyed it. Although, I did find it slightly disturbing that Tom Cruise has hardly aged in 40 years. Maybe there is some truth to that crazy Adrenochrome conspiracy theory…

Anyway, if you haven’t seen “Top Gun: Maverick,” and you like the idea of a contemporary, yet good old fashioned American movie, this one is worth checking out. I think it would have been even better if I’d seen it on the big screen. Perhaps I should try to make it to a movie theater sometime this year. I’ve got a craving for that damn popcorn now.

Unapologetically Outspoken,

Tara