Us vs Them

Let me just say something…

They thrive off of dividing us into “us” vs “them.” We don’t see problems that don’t affect us. We think we are part of the group that’s safe, until we realize that that they control who is a part of which group. Follow me I’m going somewhere.

When it was us y’all felt safe because it wasn’t you.

Then 911 happened, and then you became the target. You became the one who everyone was looking at strangely. You became the one they were watching when it came time to board the plane.

They convince you to feel superior to others because you have this or that, because your papers say this or that, because you came from here not there, because you did it legally unlike them.

When the pandemic happened, they blamed it on y’all. Suddenly you were the one everyone was looking at strangely. Your neighbors and your neighhood became the target. You became the one they were watching when it came time to board the plane.

Back before all of this you felt you were safe because you arrived legally, you didn’t float in on makeshift rafts. You did it the “right” way, and you’re an official now, so you’re superior to those others. You’re better than “them.”

Then came that frozen group, who challenge your naturalization, who don’t care that you are official or that you’ve been here for the longest living as a good, upstanding citizen. You have an accent, a tan, and now you’re a target. You are the ones they’re looking at strangely, your neighborhood has become the target. You’re the one sweating as you attempt to board a plane….

Let me ask you one question. Which “minority” is left? Who’s next? You might want to start paying attention, because your rights are already on the chopping block. It might be time that you recognize what group you really belong to and who you need to align with and support.

It’s not you against us. It’s all of us against them. They are the true minority, but they’ve got us all fighting each other.

Just sayin.

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist

If this resonated, or made you think, you’ll appreciate my blog post, “Bully Adjacent.”

Read it here: https://mdillondesigns.com/2024/10/29/bully-adjacent/



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Learn more about me….


If you’d like to support my work, please check out my Support Page for multiple options. Thank you so much for being here.

If you’d like to check out more of my blog posts or podcast episodes, tap the button below and just keep reading, listening, and scrolling. Oh, and subscribe while you’re there so you know when I post a new one.


My Communication Course for Parents

Press play to learn all about my online course Healing Our Families: Healing the Parent-Child Relationship. Get it here.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Feeling blessed and emotional
Grateful… and some sadness

And allowing it all to be what it is….

Photo of Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist on pink and white balloon background with words Happy Birthday Marlene! in large gold script
Tap the image if you’d like to send a gift of encouragement (leads to my Support page).

A quick poem….

My “prayer” for this year….

This year I desire
To give more to me

To be kinder
More loving
And way more happy

To treat myself with the love
I so freely give

And to know that my dreams
Aren’t too big to live.

I want to smile
From the depths of my soul

Go places, do things
Beyond my prominent role

To live big and bold
And not just exist
To reclaim the me
I abandoned and miss

To finally release the urge to compare
To know full acceptance within not out there

To let myself shine in the places I hide
To honor the me that’s cowering inside

To dethrone fear, thank Jay for that one
To complete the projects I’ve only begun

To honor my body, my gifts, and my health
To show myself daily I care for myself

To show more compassion on days I need grace
To get in front of the camera
Not just voice, show my face.

To do it for me not so friends can approve
Follow through on my projects,
make the next move.

I know that this year can’t be same as before
Because I’ve lived less and I’m ready for more

This is no declaration of promises… change
No bday resolutions as I update my age

Just an awareness that I’m not the same as before
Too much has transpired
Swapping less for much more

Through loss and remembering
New friendships and moments

The old me + new me
Such vital components

A shift is occurring not all in one night
Life lessons and moments are setting things right

Happy Birthday to me
It’s 1 AM, Love. Goodnight.

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist
Copyright 2026
All rights reserved.



Please visit my shop and buy or share something. If you’d like to support with a review, testimonial, or monetary gift, please visit my support page. Thank you in advance.


Learn more about me….


If you’d like to support my work, please check out my Support Page for multiple options. Thank you so much for being here.

If you’d like to check out more of my blog posts or podcast episodes, tap the button below and just keep reading, listening, and scrolling. Oh, and subscribe while you’re there so you know when I post a new one.


My Communication Course for Parents

Press play to learn all about my online course Healing Our Families: Healing the Parent-Child Relationship. Get it here.

When You’re P*ssed

You ever had one of those days where you’re done with humanity?

Goodness the nonsense going on right now is toooooo much. If this was a movie, I’d walk out. But this actually reality. Howwww???

Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Press play to listen to today’s podcast. Blessings!

Okay, I’m letting you know right now, the title is an understatement. When you press play, make sure you’re in the right environment. This is a version of me you haven’t experienced and I make no apologies.

We all have bad days and this one was mine. I still kept it empowering in the end. I think it’s worth listening to. And I’m just being human, sharing how I’ve been feeling for a while. And if nothing else I hope it’s validating for you if you’ve been equally pissed lately.

Take a deep breath and press play.

Thanks for being here.

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist


Annnd F*ck It

Sometimes life gets to lifing and you don’t have space to fall out because you have responsibilities. It’s a luxury to pause to grieve, to pause to process a divorce, to pause and process life happening. Is the pause needed? Hell yeah. Do we always have the opportunity, and the space, and the financial security to do that? F*ck no.

Sometimes life gets to happening and all you can do is say, “Annnnnd f*ck it,” and keep it moving.

Tap the play button to listen to today’s podcast. Tap & hold first if necessary, then tap play.
FYI I cuss so wait ’til the kids and elders aren’t around. Press play to listen to today’s podcast. Blessings!

Granted, that’s a very odd thing to hear from somebody with a master’s in counseling. But along with my training in school, I was being trained by life. I know firsthand that life is not always easy. We don’t always have the luxury to sit down for weeks to regroup when life happens.

I’ve learned that sometimes you just got to vent when you can vent, cry when you can cry, see a therapist when you can see your therapist. And some moments you’ll be in the middle of doing your responsibilities, a painful thought will come to you, and you don’t have the room to break down. In those moments, sometimes the best thing you can do is take a deep breath and whisper to yourself, “Annnnd f*ck it.”

It’s a declaration similar to “it is what it is.” It’s a moment of realization that even though this sh*t hurts, I can’t change it. I’m not in a place of process that right now, because I have responsibilities. So in this moment, I’m gonna pivot my thoughts away from that until I can address it later.

Maybe after I get off work I can cry about it in the car. Maybe after the kids go to bed I can sit with my journal and make sense of what’s going on. But for right now, I can’t focus on that. So I’m just going to say, “Annnnd f*ck it,” and keep it moving.

On this episode, I am sharing my very real experience of navigating the space between being positive and dealing with the tough stuff in life. Press play. And don’t forget I cuss.

BTW… This is NOT a long term solution. I highly recommend you DON’T use this as your standard way of dealing with life. That sh*t will build up. So use the ideas above to release that thing a little bit at a time, talk to a friend, mentor, or see a good therapist (And if you have questions about therapy, or cannot afford one, check out my episode No Shame in Therapy).

Annnnd…. realize that thoughts and emotions don’t ask for permission. They show up when they want, and sometimes it’s not the best time. So we’ve gotta put them in the waiting room until we have the privacy to address them.

So if that’s where you are, please know I’m right there with you. Annnnd… f*ck it. 😂

Blessings!

Marlene Dillon Empowerment Specialist