JULIE ANN STEVENS

Sweet land of liberty, we celebrate you.

Red, white and blue —

Draped, waved and worn —

From curb to shining curb.

Thousands of community constellations —

Band members blaring overtures, politicians on platforms, and people picnicking in parks —

United at dusk in dazzling deafening displays above the earth’s Northern Hemisphere.

United in eternity under God —

By our love for —

And commitment to —

Freedom.

We are free people in a free country.

And yet —

Many of us struggle to feel truly free in our everyday personal and professional lives.

I know I do.

I wrestle with —

Resource constraints.  Tight turnarounds.  Uncooperative equipment.  Unkind conditions.  Dead bolted decisions.  Itchy trigger fingers —

Too much noise.

Yes, I often feel locked down by life in the fast lane as we know it today.

But gratefully —

I still have choices!

I can take liberty back —

If I am willing to pay the price.  That price may be as innocuous as a few ruffled feathers, or as stiff as the loss of significant income.  But the choice remains mine.  I can —

Pause.  Redirect.  Disconnect.  Reinvent.  Ask for a favor.  Say yes, or —

Say no.

Let it go.

All the levers for the freedom I experience in my life are in my hands —

And when I use my heart —

I know just how to play them.

Where do you need to take liberty back in your life?  Are you ready to pay the price?  If not now — when?

ORIGINALLY POSTED JUNE 29, 2011 on everydayahas.com