We Are Independent

When we were girls, our parents taught us how to be independent and strong. We learned to do various things around the house like sewing, cooking and ironing. We did things outside like working in the garden and mowing the yard. Daddy showed us how to do calligraphy. They both taught us how to think for ourselves. They helped us learn how to study. They even made sure we were comfortable just being alone. 

And independent we became. 

Independence doesn’t necessarily mean being stubborn, though. It means being able to take care of yourself and knowing when to get outside help. It means standing up for yourself and for others.  It means thinking through problems to find viable solutions. It means learning how to work and live with others. 

Independence doesn’t mean being selfish either. It means deciding for yourself what is best for you, not because you are self-centered but because no one else can answer that question better than you can.

Yesterday we celebrated our independence from King George’s rule. We withdrew from his kingdom and established ourselves as our own country. We learned how to take care of ourselves and when to strike alliances with others to make us even stronger. We became thinkers and problem solvers. And we built a strong network of people who stand tall in the face of adversity. 

We are America. We are strong. We are self-sufficient and yet benevolent. We recognize good opportunities and we seize them. We are thinkers. We are problem solvers. We are human. We stand up for what is right. We are confident. We are independent.