On July 4, 1776, thirteen British colonies located in North America declared their independence from England. Had I been alive then, I would have thought they were crazy. England ruled most of the world at that time, and they had an incredibly powerful navy. To do what the colonists did required an inordinate amount of bravery. I know that we consider them brave because they were successful. Had they failed, we probably would have called them stupid.
Every year, we celebrate their success with cookouts and fireworks. This year, I say we also celebrate by declaring our own independence. We all have things in our lives that hold us back. In my case, it's fear. Of all the emotions I feel, this one is definitely the strongest. It's also the most prevalent. Before just about any action I take, I fret over the potential consequences, frequently imagining much worse things than would actually happen.
I apologize for my mistakes a million times, and I still worry about them months after everyone else has forgotten them. There are so many things in life that I miss out on, and continue to miss out on, just because I'm too scared. I am petrified at the thought of hurting others or getting hurt myself. Instead, I just let opportunities pass me by and reminisce on what could have been, wishing I would have had the courage to do or say what I really wanted to.
So this year, I declare my independence from fear. I'm not sure how well this will go, or if I'll even be successful at all, but I'm going to give it my best shot. Is there anything you would like to declare your independence from? I wish you the best of luck with whatever it is. Let me know how things go for you, and I will return the favor. As always, thanks for reading! Happy Independence Day!
