As we are celebrating the Fourth of July- our country's Independence day it should become a time of reflection. 
Our family has been doing a study of our founding fathers. It is amazing to me that men and women would sacrifice so much so that their posterity could enjoy living free. They each were in harms way, many of them were so poor that they fought in the Revolutionary war with no shoes and very hungry.
It makes me wonder how much would I do, how far would I go- to fight for freedom as they did? To sacrifice as they sacrificed? And would a call such as that ever be placed upon us in our generation? Could I even do what they did? Would I?
Independent means:
1) not subject to the control of others- self governing
2) not affiliated with a larger controlling unit
3) not looking for others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct.
The synonym for independent is "free".
Doing a study of our country's road to independence should be a desire of each American.
Once we understand the history of our Independence we may develop a reverence for this day but also extend independence in our own lives.
When I think of independence I think about making my own decisions, being responsible for my decisions and my actions and to take control of my own destiny.
Independence is the opposite of dependence. As we look into our lives and the ways in which we behave we may ask ourselves, are we being dependent on others for approval, for security or for our well being? Are we turning over our power to others?
Perhaps this is a good time to do some reflection of our own behavior and the way we respond to what happens in our lives and in our businesses. We are in control if we choose to be.
We are free to make our own choices, if we choose to do so.
To view Welington Florida short sales Click here. We know Wellington Florida Real Estate and Wellington Florida Short Sales and will help you get your home Sold if you need to Sell your home and help you buy your home in Palm Beach County Florida: Call us today.
Copyright © By Katerina Gasset 2010 *How Does Independence Work In Your Life?*
Katerina - Thanks for providing some good food for thought for Independence Day. We might need to do a similar study with our kiddos.
Katerina, I feel we tend to take so much for granted … our freedom seems to be a given. The 4th of July is significant and relevant … it means more than words and express. Nice post … thanks!
As Janis Joplin would sing: Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.
When they take away our Freedom we will have nothing left. Love this post for the 4th of July! Our freedom "seems" to be a given . . . what seems to be, might not always be so. We are very close to nothing left to lose. People fought long and hard to be free in this country. And the banksters have done a good job of eroding quite a few of the Founding Father's wishes for their beloved Nation. Even Benjamin Franklin said: Neither a borrower or a lender be. Hmmmm . . . I wonder why?
My favorite history is American History. I have always enjoyed the stories about how this country achieved it's independence. The founding fathers were awesome. I've heard it said that the "Declaration of Independence" was devinely inspired. I wouldn't know if that true but the men who assemble during that era were some of the most brilliant this world has ever know. I kiss the ground I walk on everyday.
I love all the questions you raise in this post. To me independence is empowering. Being dependant on others for security, money, approval, or whatever, diminishes the individual and makes them more fearful. Our founders of this country were willing to face death for freedom, as do all our brave men and women in service to our country everyday. In my business and life I am not afraid to choose what is right, and true to me, and stand up for it, even in the face of disapproval from others. Great post, have a happy and safe 4th of July.
I really want to stay free. So I am doing really well with the independence thing.
Oh, I really belive that our original "independece" was founded on freedom to practice religion and government in a different manner. So, it means a lot of differnt things tp different people. I am thakful that I live in a country where I can CHOOSE almost anything.
Happy Independence Day to all!!
Having lived in other parts of the world I can truly say that we are indeed blessed to be Americans.
Sometimes when I hear Americans criticizing America, I have to remind them that just because someone or an institution does not live up to its ideals, it DOES NOT make the ideal at fault. One of the greatest moments of my life was when I became an American citizen.
God Bless America.
The Fourth of July doesn't seem to be much of a time for reflection for many....just a long summer weekend.
The Founders were of one mind about only one thing: the need for Independence from Britain: as Thomas Paine argued: it defies "common sense" for a continent to be ruled by an island.
The Founders would be all over the board on the issues of our day.....just as they were about such thing as federal powers and states rights at our beginning.
Now we are much more of a "continent" then we were back then. But we are once again being ruled by an island....the District of Columbia...an island adrift on a sea of irrationality.
Katerina:
Real estate agents are an independent breed. Most of us have, at one time or another, had actual jobs where we were expected to show up at a certain time and live under someone else's rules. To our independent spirits those are not happy memories.
We take a big risk and hope that the paychecks will keep coming but the risk is worth the reward of being in control of our own destiny.
I do not take what our founding fathers did for granted. I am eternally grateful to them for what they accomplished so that we are able to live our lives in freedom.
We have such a blessed country, and our forefathers risked everything they had--property, fortunes, liberty, life--for the sake of freedom. We have so much to be thankful for! Thanks for the great read!
Excellent post. Got me thinking on this rainy Sunday. But there is one form of independence I do not want -- having no community at all.
Happy 4th
When I think of independence I think about making my own decisions, being responsible for my decisions and my actions and to take control of my own destiny.
I couldn't have said it better. I applies so much to what I am trying to accomplish right now.
Amen sister! Very timely post 365 days a year!
The post that Tere gave really hits home with me. That pretty much sums it up for me.
Freedom is never free, we are only one generation away from enslavement.
Ronald Regan said in his farewell address:
And let me offer lesson number one about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So, tomorrow night in the kitchen I hope the talking begins. And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it. That would be a very American thing to do."
If I had it to do over again, I would have homeschooled my kids and taken them out of the very system that is breeding generations of kids who don't understand why America is great, and the values and principals that made it so.
But, like Regan said, it is up to the parents. As you know my husband teaches history in a public school and he takes every opportunity to talk to them in a non-partisian way what it really means to be free and how the larger the gov't grows the more enslaved we become.
Happy 4th of July, God bless you, so glad this was featured.
Freedom is never free, we are only one generation away from enslavement.
Ronald Regan said in his farewell address:
And let me offer lesson number one about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table. So, tomorrow night in the kitchen I hope the talking begins. And children, if your parents haven't been teaching you what it means to be an American, let 'em know and nail 'em on it. That would be a very American thing to do."
If I had it to do over again, I would have homeschooled my kids and taken them out of the very system that is breeding generations of kids who don't understand why America is great, and the values and principals that made it so.
But, like Regan said, it is up to the parents. As you know my husband teaches history in a public school and he takes every opportunity to talk to them in a non-partisian way what it really means to be free and how the larger the gov't grows the more enslaved we become.
Happy 4th of July, God bless you, so glad this was featured.
Katerina - Thanks for a great post reminding us what this holiday is all about. We should never forget that we still need to be vigilent to preserve all of those freedoms; if we aren't careful we will wake up one day and they will have eroded away bit by bit.
What the founding fathers did for our country was really something. I'm sure you have read about what happened to their families as a result of their actions.
Katerina, thank you for reminding us what Independence Day and our Country is really all about. We salute all of our men and women who are in harms way to keep this Country free. Thanks.
Katerina, Thanks for a wonderful post. I have been studying more about the American Revolution and the Founding Fathers too. Every American should be learning or even re-learning our history, most importantly during that time. It will help people to understand what an incredible gift it is to be an American - to have the freedom and opportunity (and responsibilities) that we do.
I like Emerson's famous quote about being free "....of the good opinion of others." I have a mind of my own and live by principle. I truly hope I never have to find out what I would do if I were no longer free. Something tells me I'd be willing to fight to my last breath.
Hi Katerina, And Happy Independance Day ! Thanks for a very thought provoking post. I'm betting few of our current generation are fully aware of the incredible sacrifices made by the founding fathers. Wondering too what the founders would think of our country today !
Most people don't know what freedom and independence truly mean until it's taken away from them. As the saying goes... "freedom isn't free". I, for one, am extremely grateful to be living in this wonderful country.
I love Carla's answer in #3 (as a side note, that wonderful Janis Joplin song, "Me and Bobby McGee" was written by Kris Kristofferson).
One thing that makes this country great is that in our freedom to make choices, we are free to make wrong choices. I think learning from our mistakes is one of the things that has made this country so great.
It is great to have the freedom we have and so often people take that for granted. Happy Fourth Everyone and take a moment to be thankful for what we have and this great country we live in!
Being an English women, although citizenship applications will be made later this year, I find it very interesting to hear about American's persepctive on Independence and how it relates to their own lives and families. We do not have an Independence day like you but still lived in a free country. We were free to leave and would be free to return. For now we are thankful that many of you here have no problem in wishing us a Happy July 4th, we embrace it as our own and soon will be able to officially be part of the independant country of the USA.
I thank all that welcome us into their homes and families. In june 2003 we arrived in PBG in FL and the first things our new neighbors did was to invite us to their July 4th party. How awesomw is that!!
Great post! I spend a portion of my 4th of July reflecting on those who sacrificed so that we may enjoy our freedoms.
Katerina, a super post for today. Actually with the governmental problems it is something we need to reflect on every day.
Independence has been working out pretty good for me so far. Could pay a little better, but over all i'm pleased with it.
To me it allows me the freedom to do what I wish, and when I wish it. I am very proud to be an AMERICAN. This is an amazing country, we start with a lot of dirt, and in 200 years we have this. We stated with our doors open to the world and they are still open. We have issues just like anything, but we always work threw them and become sucessfull.
Profound points for introspection...
It makes me wonder how much would I do, how far would I go- to fight for freedom as they did?
To sacrifice as they sacrificed?
And would a call such as that ever be placed upon us in our generation?
Could I even do what they did? Would I?
We might all learn a bit more about ourselves if we dig into these points one-by-one & sit with them for a while... Makes for a very provocative "Self-Conversation", for sure.
Happy Independence Day, All! May The Fourth Be With You!
(Katerina...I now have my "Topic" for my quiet moments shared with a fine cigar this evening!)
All the best!
Great post, I just re-posted it!
I do not understand why it is not made more clear in schools that when our founding fathers signed the Declaration of Independence that they were in effect putting a bounty on their own head.
It is nice to see all your thoughts, thank you, have a very safe and happy Independence Day.
Wow, I slept in today because I was not feeling very well last night. I woke up to this post being featured. What an honor to be featured on the Fourth Of July! Thank you.
Ken- and the amazing part of the story is that we are the ONLY country that has accomplished this in only 200 years. That is divine providence.
Brian- and it is because of you being my friend on Facebook that I became a member of the facebook group Capitalism. Love that group!
Ponder as we may, deep thought is well intended as we muddle through trivial content taking up brain real estate, then action must proceed.
Carla Comment #3- and one of my favorite Thomas Jefferson quotes:
My favorite of them all is:
"I sincerely believe... that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:23
"Paper is poverty,... it is only the ghost of money, and not money itself." --Thomas Jefferson to Edward Carrington, 1788. ME 7:36
That paper money has some advantages is admitted. But that its abuses also are inevitable and, by breaking up the measure of value, makes a lottery of all private property, cannot be denied. --Thomas Jefferson to Josephus B. Stuart, 1817. ME 15:11
"I own it to be my opinion, that good will arise from the destruction of our credit. I see nothing else which can restrain our disposition to luxury, and to the change of those manners which alone can preserve republican government. As it is impossible to prevent credit, the best way would be to cure its ill effects by giving an instantaneous recovery to the creditor. This would be reducing purchases on credit to purchases for ready money. A man would then see a prison painted on everything he wished, but had not ready money to pay for." --Thomas Jefferson to Archibald Stuart, 1786. ME 5:259
"I look back to the time of the war as a time of happiness and enjoyment, when amidst the privation of many things not essential to happiness, we could not run in debt, because nobody would trust us; when we practised by necessity the maxim of buying nothing but what we had money in our pockets to pay for; a maxim which, of all others, lays the broadest foundation for happiness. I see no remedy to our evils, but an open course of law. Harsh as it may seem, it would relieve the very patients who dread it, by stopping the course of their extravagance, before it renders their affairs entirely desperate." --Thomas Jefferson to Fulwar Skipwith, 1787. ME 6:188
"That we are overdone with banking institutions which have banished the precious metals and substituted a more fluctuating and unsafe medium, that these have withdrawn capital from useful improvements and employments to nourish idleness, that the wars of the world have swollen our commerce beyond the wholesome limits of exchanging our own productions for our own wants, and that, for the emolument of a small proportion of our society who prefer these demoralizing pursuits to labors useful to the whole, the peace of the whole is endangered and all our present difficulties produced, are evils more easily to be deplored than remedied." --Thomas Jefferson to Abbe Salimankis, 1810. ME 12:379
"The system of banking [I] have... ever reprobated. I contemplate it as a blot left in all our Constitutions, which, if not covered, will end in their destruction, which is already hit by the gamblers in corruption, and is sweeping away in its progress the fortunes and morals of our citizens." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:18
WOW, and to think that most young and old people today do not study these great minds, these minds so blessed with an understanding and reasoning beyond most of today's minds. Their amazing advice is timeless, never ending and always a warning. AMAZING!
Thank you for the post today especially. Nothing should be taken for granted, being grateful for all I have is a way of life for me. I am so happy I'm a US citizen living the life in America, the greatest country there is.
Enjoy your holiday.
Patricia/Seacoast NH
Deep thoughts there, Katerina. Too many people complain/blame others for their lot in life and misfortunes. We are in control ...
Katerina: Sure, we are free to make our own choices -- just as long as those choices fall in line with the expectations of others. Fairness and freedom are becoming a mirage, I fear.
Hi Katerina. Happy independence day! Except nowadays we are slaves to banks and so on and so on.
Aaron- No matter how bad one's circumstances are the one thing that we can control is our choice in how we respond. 'Man's Search For Meaning' is a great study on how people can survive the most horrid of conditions through knowing the one power that their captures and torturers can not take from them is their choice in how to respond to those evil people.
I really don't care about the expectations of others. I answer to no man. I answer only to my God and my Savior Jesus Christ. It took me SO long to learn this lesson. I was SO shy when I was a child and I missed out on so many good things in life because of how self conscious I was. All the things I did to please horrible people as a child and as a teenager really are sad but I went through what I did to learn what I know now.
We can do something about this, you know.
Lana- We choose to be the slaves. We can free ourselves from this bondage. We have neighbors who are no longer slaves, owe nothing to no one, what a great goal to strive for!
Stalin was little better than a Chicago Street thug, only he had lots of power. A country would have to be crazy to give that much authority to a Chicago Street thug . . . . oops!
I asked Melissa what she meant #20, and this is what: Our Founding Fathers -- Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor.
An amazing look at the unsung heros and their families.
Thanks Melissa!!
Gene... You're bad... ;^ )
Most Americans would be scared to death of true freedom. Being responsible for their own retirement, health care, and everything else would make many curl up into a ball... Think of a time when there was NO fire response aside from the neighbors... IF there were neighbors. There was little if any police response.
How would we react today?
"I sincerely believe... that banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies, and that the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity under the name of funding is but swindling futurity on a large scale." --Thomas Jefferson to John Taylor, 1816. ME 15:23
Interesting,I will ( if I have time) read more on this!
Katerina,
Good post and pause for reflection. Enjoy youself this holiday weekend.
Lane- good points, very good points. I am so independent that every choice I have made about work or business has never been weighed by if I could get health insurance paid, pensions or retirements paid, etc. I don't even look at social security as an option. I don't want it. And by the time I could get it, they tie your hands to how much money you can make- NO Thank you! I will pass. Leave me alone to care for me and mine.
I went to an interesting class on economics at the homeschool convention and the Professor said that in the early days of our country you were expected to take care of yourself and your family in all manner. No way would you go before Congress and say, " Help me now with health care, I am old and feeble now and I need your help to take care of me." The first thing that would have been asked to you would be,
"Did you know that you were going to grow old one day?"
"Did you know that at some point in your life perhaps you may not be able to do all you did when you were younger?"
"The entire years of you being youthful, working- did you save the money for this time, did you think to set aside a safety net, were you responsible in what you spent your money on....?"
Yes, it is called personal responsibility.
Benjamin Franklin said: "Those who will trade liberty for security- deserve neither." He also said the best way out of poverty is to make it uncomfortable to be in poverty! Katerina
It would be great if this country wasn't so dependent on foreign oil and imports.
It is too comfortable to be in poverty here and now. There are people all over the world that would give ANYTHING to be poor in this country...
Georgina- We don't have to be. There is enough Shale in Colorado, Utah and Montana to keep us full of oil for years and years and years, There is clean coal and there is so much natural gas in Alaska that we could become the biggest exporter rather than importer. Politics won't allow for that I am afraid.
Lane- I agree. To be poor here is like being rich in over 2/3 of the rest of the world. The poor we meet here get food stamps, free health care, free WIC, free gov't milk, cheese and butter, Section 8 housing and then to top it all off, they have big screen TVs, iPhones, iPods, game stations, games, Wii's etc. If you add it up, oh yes, and unemployment checks, if you add it all up many people make more money living on the assistance than they do getting a job.
I've traveled to countries where the mere thought of saying somthing negative against the King can land you in jail or even dead. As crazy as our country can be at times, at least I know that I can express myself fully without out fear of death (at least from the Federal or State Government).