Just Behind the Door

The 4th of July is all about our freedom in the U.S. There are so many countries in this world where it is not possible to recognize individual freedom. We are, indeed, fortunate. So many people who came before us made tremendous life sacrifices just to be sure that we would be a country that values individual freedom. I am humbled by their vision, dedication to the cause and effort to make it a reality. They made sure that we would have the opportunity to live in a land that celebrates the uniqueness of each person.
I had the rare opportunity to celebrate this year with my extended family in Michigan. All 47+ of us enjoyed a day sharing, laughing and playing together at one of the local lakes. As the hours wore on, it was evident that each of us really didn’t want the day to end. It was just one of those perfect days. As I watched each of them, I thought about how grateful I was to God/Universal Energy for their presence in my life. As a group they reflect a slice of the American dream. Each are so unique and yet are all working to improve their lives one day at a time. Wow! It doesn’t get much better than that!
The freedom we experience in our county allows us to learn, develop and live our lives to the fullest. We have the opportunity to make our life and the life of others a little better everyday just by taking the time to connect and show that we care. Caring about yourself was not something my generation was taught to do. Being selfless was rather the norm. So,I have had to learn all about taking care of self first. What a challenging lesson it has been! Yet, we learn as we become older that in order to help others and change the world we must take care of ourselves first. Some of us need ‘permission’ to put ourselves first. Well, here you have it – during this Independence Week – please take care of yourself – do something special just for you. Why? Because, YOU deserve it. As Dr. Seuss in his famous story said, You are a unique being, the number 1 genuine article. There really will never be another you. So celebrate our freedom and celebrate the freedom to be you. You will feel more energized and tomorrow will seem even brighter. Tonight, before going to bed, think about something you can do just for you and remember why it is possible – because our forefathers worked to make the world a little better place.

Have a great few days!