“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
–Thomas Jefferson
By the time you receive this email, I will be celebrating Independence Day by camping. My daughter reserved a group campsite from July 1 to July 8 at a campground that was our favorite when my kids were younger. On the third of July, we will be floating the Rogue River, which we also enjoyed weekly when the kids were growing up.
Am I excited? Yes…to see my kids and to get out of town. My idea of camping, though, is the Hilton. I’m not a tent person and I’m not sure when that changed, either. I’m not sure why it changed, because I haven’t camped but one time in the last 20 years.
Could it be because it’s something new again? Could it be because I checked the campground website and couldn’t find wifi anywhere? What do I do with my phone when I’m rafting? OMGoodness, will there even be cell service up there? Now I’m starting to tremble. This is really going to be uncomfortable. I have baby wipes for the dirt. We have an air mattress for the tent. Thank goodness–there is electricity in the bathrooms.
As we celebrate Independence Day, I am reminded that the founders of our nation were very uncomfortable, too, (much more uncomfortable than me camping.) What they did was epic! They had committed high treason against King George III by signing the Declaration of Independence that denounced their allegiance to their mother country.
“We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor” is Jefferson’s final sentence; for over 20 of the signers, that pledge would take on a woeful meaning in the years after 1776. Nine signers paid the ultimate sacrifice – their lives – for the cause of Independence. Seventeen (almost 1 for every 3 who signed) lost every penny they had and every piece of property they owned. Yet not a single one reneged on their pledge to stand “for the support of this Declaration”.
From their commitment, leadership, bravery and sacrifice arose a glorious country where we live in freedom. I believe it is the greatest country in the world. It’s turned out to be a great experiment and a great adventure! Let’s pause this weekend to celebrate our nation’s 241st birthday and recognize the great ideals that our nation has stood for since its founding — freedom, liberty, independence and individual rights.
Wherever you may be celebrating the 4th of July, I hope you have a blast! As I finish this email and get ready to leave town, I got a text from my daughter. On Sunday night, July 2, she booked a 20-foot patio boat for our own personal sunset cruise on the lake at the campground! Yippee! I’m ready. I’m going to make this a great adventure!
Happy Independence Day to you,
Adventurously typed!
Jan
Jan McDonald
John Maxwell Team
(still CEO of Life Options)
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