Food for Thought: Why Would I Encourage Someone Else to Take My Companion?

There is a question that has been on my mind lately:

How much sense does it make for me, as a woman, to encourage another person whether man or woman to take my companion?

Think about it.

If I truly value my relationship, why would I promote someone else's access to the very person I claim is important to me? If successful, the outcome could be the elimination of my own place in that relationship. Logically, it seems contradictory.

Relationships are built on trust, loyalty, commitment, and mutual respect. While friendships and healthy social interactions are normal, actively encouraging someone else to pursue your companion creates a dynamic that can undermine the very foundation of what you are trying to protect.

Some people may argue that love should be tested. Others may say that if a companion can be "taken," they were never truly yours to begin with. There is some truth in that perspective. A committed partner makes choices every day. Loyalty is not determined by the absence of temptation; it is demonstrated through consistent decisions.

But the larger question remains:

Why would anyone intentionally invite competition into a relationship they want to preserve?

If your goal is to build a future together, encouraging alternatives seems counterproductive. If your goal is to walk away, then perhaps it no longer matters. However, if your goal is stability, security, and growth, common sense would suggest nurturing the relationship rather than creating circumstances that threaten it.

This thought also raises another important point: no one can truly "take" someone who does not wish to leave. Every adult has free will. Relationships are ultimately maintained or ended by the choices of the people involved, not by outsiders alone.

Perhaps the real lesson is this:

Protect what you value.

Invest in what matters.

Communicate openly.

And never be surprised when actions produce predictable consequences.

At the end of the day, encouraging someone else to take your companion may say less about the third person and more about the state of the relationship itself.

Just some food for thought.

— Chevy 

Reflections on the Tony Awards 2026: Identity, Judgment, and Perspective

I will begin by saying something that may surprise some people: I did not want to watch the Tony Awards this year. Yet there was no suitable substitution, and curiosity eventually won.

As I watched the performance from Ragtime, one particular line struck me deeply: "No Negroes, No Immigrants."

The line itself is historically significant within the context of the production, but it forced me to reflect on something larger. When I hear language that highlights discrimination, especially from communities that often advocate for sensitivity, inclusion, and acceptance, I find myself reevaluating my priorities, my choices, and even the circles I travel in.

For years, people have judged me based on their assumptions about my political connections, particularly my association with President Donald Trump. Frankly, I have grown accustomed to it.

What many people fail to understand is that I am living proof that reality is often more complicated than political narratives. Many people look at me and immediately assume I am Black. Others make assumptions about my beliefs, values, and experiences without ever taking the time to ask.

How you think about me is not my business.

What becomes my business is when people decide who I am before they know me.

Many people seem determined to classify Trump as a racist. Yet my own experiences do not fit neatly into that narrative. My life has been shaped by opportunities, relationships, and experiences that challenge the assumptions others make.

That does not mean I agree with every decision President Trump has ever made.

I didn't agree with every decision President Obama made either.

The difference is that some people believe they already know who I should be, how I should think, and how I should act based on their own expectations.

I reject that premise entirely.

While some people spend their time judging others, I often wonder: What are you doing to improve yourself?

What goals are you pursuing?

What challenges are you overcoming?

What contributions are you making to your community?

It is easy to criticize. It is much harder to build.

The 2026 Tony Awards may be my last. Not because I cannot tolerate different viewpoints, and not because I expect everyone to think as I do.

Rather, I am increasingly concerned about a culture that seems more interested in labeling people than understanding them.

We have reached a point where disagreement is often treated as hostility, and where assumptions replace conversations.

Yet there is an old principle that remains true:

By judging others, we invite judgment upon ourselves.

I have learned to respect people whose beliefs differ from my own. I celebrate the right of people to practice their faith, express their convictions, and live according to their conscience. Whether I personally agree with them is secondary to respecting their humanity.

The world would benefit from a little more listening and a little less condemning.

That is what I took away from the Tony Awards this year.

Not anger.

Not resentment.

Just a reminder that understanding others begins with the willingness to see them as individuals rather than categories.

Question of the Day: Identity, Expression, and Understanding

Question for the Day:

If gay men don't like women, why do some dress like women? How can someone dislike something they appear to be trying to emulate?

This question comes up often, and many people have strong opinions about it. However, before jumping to conclusions, it may be worth exploring the difference between sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

Being attracted to women or men is one thing. How a person chooses to dress, present themselves, or express their personality is something entirely different.

Some gay men dress in traditionally masculine ways. Some dress in ways society considers feminine. Some enjoy drag performances as entertainment, art, or self-expression. Others have no interest in any of those things.

The assumption that dressing in feminine clothing means someone wants to "become" a woman may not always be accurate. For many, clothing is simply a form of expression, creativity, culture, performance, or comfort.

The bigger question may be:

Why do we often associate clothing, makeup, hairstyles, and mannerisms exclusively with one gender?

Throughout history, fashion standards have changed dramatically. High heels, wigs, jewelry, and elaborate clothing were once common among men in many societies. What we define as "masculine" and "feminine" has evolved over time.

Whether we agree or disagree with someone's choices, understanding the difference between attraction and expression can help us have more productive conversations.

At the end of the day, people are complex. Human behavior doesn't always fit neatly into categories, and what appears contradictory on the surface may have a deeper explanation beneath it.

Food for Thought:

Is clothing a reflection of who we are, or is it simply one way we choose to express ourselves?

What do you think?