Independence Day
Independence Day......I have always loved this day. Growing up in a small town, we'd have the carnival with rides and funnel cakes, the parade, turtle races, picnics at the park or BBQs in the backyard, the sound of the wind blowing through the cornfields (knee high by 4th of July) then off to the park to watch fireworks and enjoy our little community. Oh the joys of growing up there are many, but the 4th, now that was a celebration that rivaled Homecoming week. (That's for another post)
I still get excited about the 4th. Food, watermelon, fireworks, drinks and more food. I enjoy the ahhhs and ooohs of the kids (and myself) as we see beautiful colors lighting up the sky. I enjoy playing on the field of a local high school leading up to the nights spectacular show. I enjoy the smells, sounds and sights of the day. I enjoy all of it, its good, innocent childhood fun.
Independence Day, a day of freedom. A day we celebrate our rights to be individuals who live freely in our country, to express our opinions, our faith, our rights but how many of us truly live free? We imprison ourselves with burdens not ours to bear. We shoulder the weight of daily life as though, in the end, it matters. We live with our chains of what society thinks, what we feel others want and what we are taught as children. We carry the "American dream" around as though it fits everyone and we try to mold ourselves to fit into a box that isn't meant for all.
I want to live my life free. Free of sorrow, free of shame, free of what the world tells me is for me. I want my independence. I want what was fought for, what is still being fought for. The lives that were sacrificed are not being honored by those of us who breathe the air of freedom while living in our own prison. Free yourself from chaos, free yourself from sadness, free yourself from worry. We have but only one life to live and we keep choosing to live it according to others.
I'm going to dance with sparklers tonight, I'm going to laugh, love, live and be free.
It's time to be independent.
I still get excited about the 4th. Food, watermelon, fireworks, drinks and more food. I enjoy the ahhhs and ooohs of the kids (and myself) as we see beautiful colors lighting up the sky. I enjoy playing on the field of a local high school leading up to the nights spectacular show. I enjoy the smells, sounds and sights of the day. I enjoy all of it, its good, innocent childhood fun.
Independence Day, a day of freedom. A day we celebrate our rights to be individuals who live freely in our country, to express our opinions, our faith, our rights but how many of us truly live free? We imprison ourselves with burdens not ours to bear. We shoulder the weight of daily life as though, in the end, it matters. We live with our chains of what society thinks, what we feel others want and what we are taught as children. We carry the "American dream" around as though it fits everyone and we try to mold ourselves to fit into a box that isn't meant for all.
I want to live my life free. Free of sorrow, free of shame, free of what the world tells me is for me. I want my independence. I want what was fought for, what is still being fought for. The lives that were sacrificed are not being honored by those of us who breathe the air of freedom while living in our own prison. Free yourself from chaos, free yourself from sadness, free yourself from worry. We have but only one life to live and we keep choosing to live it according to others.
I'm going to dance with sparklers tonight, I'm going to laugh, love, live and be free.
It's time to be independent.
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