Independence

The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on free men.

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Independence

We are very fortunate to have been either born in this country or to live in this country. Life can get so busy that we forget to stop and think about the freedom we have due to some strong men and woman who not only wanted independence, but they understood the gravity of being truly free individuals. July 4th is a day of rejoicing. It's about being able to enjoy your family and friends as well as good food and conversation. But most importantly, it's about the freedom we have as individuals to forge our own path and define our own journey without anyone else being able to define it for us. Our forefathers understood that in order to live up to our true potential, we must be free in every sense of the word. It would be transformational not only for the country but for every individual living here. They embraced the power of their own independence with great tenacity and strength. They gave us permission to do the same. Go on and find your voice in this world and forge ahead with a new sense of freedom and purpose. Find the courage and fortitude to keep going in the direction of your dreams and don’t let others get in the way of obtaining your goals. In the words of Janis Joplin, "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.” Well you truly have nothing to lose so go ahead, embrace your independence and enjoy what it means to be truly free!

Challenges

(Picture by my mom, Sue)

Eat a live frog first thing in the morning

and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.

— Mark Twain

(Meaning: tackle the most overwhelming task the first thing in the morning and the rest of your day will be a breeze! Thank you Steve for the quote and for inspiring this pearl.)

Challenges

We all have some majors issues going on that either concern us or consume most of our thinking. So much of our time is spent on concentrating on how we are going to go about dealing with them. Whether it's thinking about what we need to do to get through the next big project at work, how we are going to juggle life and school at the same time or how we are going to manage our finances when the debt is overwhelming. Well "thinking" about these challenges doesn't help, it only overwhelms us even more and makes us feel like we don't have any idea where to start! Instead, take a look at a challenge you are facing only in the present day. What can you do today that will make it a little bit easier? By looking at this situation in smaller pieces, you not only will accomplish more, you usually will feel less overwhelmed while dealing with it. When you face challenges one day at a time, you relieve yourself and your thinking by creating positive movement to change, fix or accomplish the task. The next thing you know, this challenge will be far behind you! Start today by "eating a frog" and see how much better you feel the rest of the day!

Control

Just remember, there's a right way and a wrong way to do everything and the wrong way is to keep trying to make everybody else do it the right way.

~M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter

Control
What would life be without a few surprises! Usually they happen when we least expect it. Whether it's an opportunity that falls in your lap, a bonus you didn't expect, or running into an old childhood friend, life has a way of reminding us that we are not in as much control as we would like to believe. For some of us, that can be a scary concept. If we can't be in control then our world just may fall apart. But here's a secret, it won't! Life is meant to be lived, not controlled. Life is meant to be unexpected. It wouldn't be life if that were not the case! The more you can let go and start enjoying everyday for what it is, another day to experience so many fantastic things, the more you will feel fulfilled. Stop thinking that if you release control, your world will collapse. The opposite will happen. By stopping the act of trying to control everything, you release yourself from unrealistic expectations and gain the most important thing back, a life that you truly enjoy!