Has your life been turned upside down? Have you found yourself isolated from family, friends, or even your job? I relate to that.
People I’d known for years, some I met face-to-face, speculated online about how I could be labeled a “rude murderer” capable of killing a woman.
My experience mirrors the despair shared by many Americans in recent years—unique yet sadly familiar.
Today, I want to share how I navigated my way through it all.
Painful lessons
There’s no use sugarcoating it; it was rough. I was deeply absorbed in one of the hardest periods of my life, and I’ve emerged as a different person because of it.
After witnessing firsthand how self-serving and, at times, downright malevolent people can be, I find it hard to trust others anymore, even those I once cared about.
However, some lessons, though painful, have a way of offering compensation.
The so-called woke left has been a long-standing issue. While the most egregious behaviors from radical leftists have surfaced in recent times, the roots of this situation can be traced back decades, perhaps to the influence of Marxist intellectuals in universities starting in the 1960s. By 2020, their ideas were in full bloom.
During the pandemic, those with authoritarian tendencies revealed themselves—it wasn’t just strangers; friends and family were also a part of that group.
Here’s a thought: Liberals often embody real authoritarianism.
Closet Marxism
Back in the 1990s, I attended Sarah Lawrence University, thought to be one of the most liberal arts colleges. You may not have heard of it, but it runs alongside other elite liberal institutions.
What struck me was my lack of awareness of the Marxist ideologies lurking there, the idea that truth is not an absolute, but rather everything is framed through oppressor and oppressed.
I studied thinkers like Herbert Marcuse, Michel Foucault, and Judith Butler. These figures champion radical queer and trans activism; they seem to think that capitalism is the root of all their issues, rather than addressing their own grievances.
Life After School
After graduating, I spent some time as a newspaper reporter. Though the lines between actual reporting and objectivity blurred, I appreciated the mission. Later, I found work at a nonprofit focused on funeral planning, aimed at helping families avoid financial strain. The average funeral costs a staggering $10,000, and during times of grief, that burden can feel unbearable. I stand by that work and don’t regret it.
However, while the organization presented itself as independent, those running it were predominantly Democrats and staunch liberals.
It felt fine to align with them, but if you dared to voice any dissenting opinions, you quickly discovered how fierce the backlash could be.
Shifting Perspectives
Between 2020 and 2021, I underwent a political transformation. Today, I identify as a conservative traditionalist. The shock of witnessing how transgender policies affect children, along with criticism directed at conservatives—especially towards Donald Trump—prompted an awakening, one noticeably delayed until I reached my 40s.
In 2021, I launched a weekly show called “Dissatisfied,” with friends. We discuss politics and culture through a personal, psychological lens. I believe that the same narcissistic traits fueling domestic and child abuse actually drive leftist behaviors.
“Dissatisfied” critiques distorted mindsets, including transgender ideology, anti-capitalist rhetoric, and the phenomenon of victimhood for attention.
Backlash
When my colleagues discovered the content of my show, they orchestrated a coup from within. The satellite office released a statement branding me misogynistic and prejudiced, a public health risk with my views on vaccination mandates.
Simultaneously, my friendships crumbled; my reputation lay in ruins. Those I once called friends speculated online about how I could be a “voracious murderer.”
By the end of 2023, I officially lost my job. Yes, I resigned, but, honestly, it felt inevitable—if I hadn’t, I would have been outright fired. My board didn’t defend me, except for a handful of supportive colleagues from my two decades of service.
Moving Forward
Does it sting? Definitely. It’s left me cautious, even fearful of the world. For the first time in 20 years, I faced an unstable income. My name was tarnished in consumer advocacy, where I was once recognized as an expert on burial and funeral laws.
What’s next? For months, I wrestled with despair, but that couldn’t last forever. I had to reclaim my life, albeit in a new way.
Here’s what I did:
- Channeling my anger about the lies and abuses I witnessed on the left, I brought those topics to light in my weekly show.
- I began a Substack blog to complement my show, where I delve into topics I didn’t cover on air.
- After a severe bout of despair, I launched a coaching and consulting practice, offering guidance to those facing similar social or familial rejection, and even affordable funeral planning.
- I’ve transitioned from being a vocal leftist to writing weekly columns for Align.
Shifting from steady, salaried work to bouncing between freelance roles is quite an adjustment, to say the least. There’s no guarantee with this type of income.
But that’s a small price to pay for freedom. Today, I find myself mentally, emotionally, and politically liberated.
It was a tough journey, but I’m not looking back.
