Is It Me?

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

In 2007 my husband and I purchased land in the North Carolina mountains with no immediate plans to build. But as we observed the challenges of building there, we decided to go with a prebuilt modular home. In 2008 our son found us a great deal on a model that we fell in love with.

We decided to save money by doing a lot of the interior finish ourselves. Once the home was delivered , we took two weeks off work and headed from Florida to North Carolina.

We were blessed to stay with friends from Florida who spent summers there. Not only did they give us a place to sleep, they made sure we had a nice meal every evening. We were so tired at the end of the day, it was wonderful to enjoy a meal and conversation. They have moved on to Glory now and I miss their sweet friendship.

I wanted the new home to have color, not monochrome walls. I chose soft blues, greens and even some gray. I was very pleased with the colors. Back at work during lunch, I was telling the group about the colors I had chosen. One person commented the colors were very Martha Stewart.

That comment rankled. I hadn’t even thought of Ms Stewart. Weren’t the color choices mine?

They were and they were’nt. The grocery store check out lines are flush with home style magazines. Martha and her successors were in my head. LOL

Those of us who raised children know well how they were influenced by cereal ads on the television.

And don’t get me started about the heavy influence on the children during the Christmas season. The must have toys!

Now is 2024 we are surrounded by 24/7 media. An evening of television isn’t simple entertainment. It is crafted for influence and has been for years. Product placement in a scene is coveted. We see it without taking it in, but the product is in our subconscious.

I am choosing to take my subconscious back. How you might ask. I plan to be more attentive to why I want something and why I think something. I don’t want to be a part of the chorus or a star. I simply want to be myself, liking what I like, disliking what I don’t. If I see the herd heading one way, I want to stop and ask, is this me or am I being manipulated.

Tags: #amblogging, Christian bloggers, How we are influenced, marketing and manipulation, Mind control