What does the 4^th of July mean to you?  For many, it is fireworks and parades, apple pie and hot dogs, family picnics and barbecues and a holiday that happens at the perfect time of the year.  For me, it is a day to give thanks for being able to live in the greatest country in the world – greatest because of the freedoms and choices that our ancestors fought for and which are guaranteed to each and every one of us to this day.

I understand that it may be easy to lose sight of the principles on which this country was founded when we have never known anything else in our lifetimes.  For those of us who were born here, we may take freedom for granted because we have never known anything else.  But, there are many who live in this country that were born elsewhere and had to sacrifice so very much to come here and make a brand new life for themselves and their families in order to be guaranteed these freedoms.  And, if necessary, they would do it all over again.

I guess that is why it is so very hard for me to understand how some find it so very easy to take away from others without so much as a second thought.  There are those who think that they are entitled to whatever they want and take from others without a second thought.  They are willing to rob or cheat or steal and even kill others for what they want because they are smarter or stronger and because who cares what their victims did to earn what they have.  They certainly can’t understand the true value of what it means to be independent when they have no respect for others’ lives and property. 

There are those who believe that it is okay to tell others about who they should elect to political office or what they should believe as their religious choice or how they should treat others who are of a different social, economic or ethnic, etc. group.  They believe that power and control over others is the most important thing in life. And even sadder are those who are willing to give away their choices because they are afraid to be independent and make their own choices.  They believe that others truly know better what is good for them personally and that they have to be part of a group in order to survive in this world.

Well, this July 4^th when we celebrate the hard-won independence of our country, I think that it is a great time to stop and reflect on our own personal independence and what that independence really means.  Each of us needs to respect our  independence enough to make the choices that are best for us on a personal level and to respect that independence enough to allow it for everyone else to be able to make their own choices, even when we are not in agreement with them.  After all, this is truly what independence is all about.

What does the 4th of July mean to you? COMMENT

As we celebrate this wonderful holiday that marks our freedom and independence as a country, I couldn’t help but reflect on the personal freedoms that we have as individuals living here. I am so grateful for the rights that I am guaranteed and which I so often take for granted. And I am so fortunate to have the freedom of choice that so many other people in this world will never know. That is why I want to reflect on that particular gift at this moment.

As I look back over the choices that I have made in my life, I am really satisfied with them as they were always made with the most information that I had available at the time. As with everything in life, we learn and grow as individuals each day and if we obtain additional information as we go that may be in conflict with what we previously thought about a situation or individual and if that information is detrimental to us and/or other family members, etc., then we can choose to change those circumstances. However, it is very hard to make wise choices for ourselves when we get wrapped up in the emotions of a particular situation. I think that the biggest inhibitors are blame and guilt.

How many times have you heard adults justifying their behavior or choices by suggesting that that is what they were taught? Or what about those who choose to do something because someone else told them to do it? They get so wrapped up in blaming someone else for their choices that they completely miss the opportunity that they had to create a better outcome for themselves.

Similarly, when someone makes a decision that results in a less than successful outcome, they feel guilty about it. But why should you feel guilty? Unless you choose to do something that is harmful to someone else, there should be no guilt involved. You did the best that you could with the information that you had and if you find out later that things were not as they appeared then you have the choice to change those circumstances.

You have the right to make choices. You have the right to be a victim of your circumstances. You have the right to blame others for your situation. You have the right to wallow in self-pity for the situation in which you find yourself. However, you also have the right to be happy. You have the right to create the life that you want. You have the right to treat others with kindness and love. But, most importantly, you have the right to choose whatever you want for yourself because you live in a country that guarantees you that freedom. I hope that you choose well.

I would love your comments.

I don’t know about anyone else but Memorial Day is a very special holiday to me. It isn’t because I personally had a lot of people in my family and/or circle of friends who went to war for my country because I didn’t. In fact, I don’t personally know a single person who died fighting for our freedom. Nevertheless, I am extremely moved each year on this holiday as I contemplate what type of person would go to fight for his/her country and who would ultimately give their lives for our lives here.

I don’t know a family whose son or daughter did not return from war or one person who had to spend the rest of their life without their best friend in this manner. And I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to go to war and to lose one or more comrades next to you in a fire fight. All I have to say is that when I think of such people I am so very grateful for their ultimate sacrifice for me and my fellow Americans and I know that I could never do what they have done for me.

I look at the military graveyards with the American flag beside each headstone and tears come to my eyes. These mark the lives of so many young people who sacrificed their lives for us. What kind of a person is that giving? Who could be that self-sacrificing to go to war for our freedom? I can’t begin to wrap my mind around such a choice.

So this year on Memorial Day as every other, I always take time to stop and think about all of these unique individuals who are my heroes. I watch the parades and the memorial services and look into the faces of those veterans who are in attendance and I say a lot of extra prayers for all of those who have worn the various uniforms of those military people who have served our country. I admire every single one of them who have had strength of character that I will never know and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their sacrifices.

I feel so very fortunate to live in this, the greatest country in the world, and to have a military that is willing to fight for my freedoms and the freedoms of others. The strength and bravery of so many people from both the past and the present is just mind-boggling to me. Although I am not able to let these people know how I personally feel about their sacrifices, I am so glad that we do have a special holiday to acknowledge their accomplishments and to allow us as a nation to thank all of them and let them know what their sacrifices mean to us. And I hope that we never forget what they have done to keep us free and to have all of the future generations know and respect the sacrifices that have been made to make this the greatest nation.

I would love your comments on what Memorial Day means to you.

I don’t know about anyone else but Memorial Day is a very special holiday to me.  It isn’t because I personally had a lot of people in my family and/or circle of friends who went to war for my country because I didn’t.  In fact, I don’t personally know a single person who died fighting for our freedom.  Nevertheless, I am extremely moved each year on this holiday as I contemplate what type of person would go to fight for his/her country and who would ultimately give their lives for our lives here.

I don’t know a family whose son or daughter did not return from war or one person who had to spend the rest of their life without their best friend in this manner.  And I can’t begin to imagine what it would be like to go to war and to lose one or more comrades next to you in a fire fight.  All I have to say is that when I think of such people I am so very grateful for their ultimate sacrifice for me and my fellow Americans and I know that I could never do what they have done for me.

I look at the military graveyards with the American flag beside each headstone and tears come to my eyes.  These mark the lives of so many young people who sacrificed their lives for us.  What kind of a person is that giving?  Who could be that self-sacrificing to go to war for our freedom?  I can’t begin to wrap my mind around such a choice.

So this year on Memorial Day as every other, I always take time to stop and think about all of these unique individuals who are my heroes.  I watch the parades and the memorial services and look into the faces of those veterans who are in attendance and I say a lot of extra prayers for all of those who have worn the various uniforms of those military people who have served our country.  I admire every single one of them who have had a strength of character that I will never know and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their sacrifices. 

I feel so very fortunate to live in this, the greatest country in the world, and to have a military that is willing to fight for my freedoms and the freedoms of others.  The strength and bravery of so many people from both the past and the present is just mind-boggling to me.  Although I am not able to let these people know how I personally feel about their sacrifices, I am so glad that we do have a special holiday to acknowledge their accomplishments and to allow us as a nation to thank all of them and let them know what their sacrifices mean to us.  And I hope that we never forget what they have done to keep us free and to have all of the future generations know and respect the sacrifices that have been made to make this the greatest nation.