As I look forward to celebrating Independence Day this weekend, I am grateful for the freedom we have in the United States.

I am grateful for the ability to choose where I live, to speak my own mind, to do work that matters to me, and to connect with people in ways that are meaningful.

Two hundred and fifty years ago, our Founding Fathers faced conflict, uncertainty, and risk. They did not have a clear or easy path. They did not have guarantees. But they believed something different was possible, trusted their instincts, and acted on their beliefs.

They had a goal in mind: Freedom.

Freedom to choose. Freedom to speak. Freedom to make decisions. Freedom to take action and accept responsibility for the outcomes of those actions.

That is one of the things freedom enables us to do. It gives us choices. It also requires us to use those choices with thought, courage, and responsibility.

And sometimes, freedom is the willingness to keep going even when other people do not yet understand what we are trying to do. It does not mean we ignore facts, feedback, or reality. But it does mean we should be careful about letting other people’s assumptions, timing, fears, or definitions of success make our choices for us.

I have to believe the people who lived through the move toward independence had many doubts. Growing up in the Philadelphia region, I often read and heard stories about the Loyalists and Colonists, and how the move toward independence divided communities and families.

One of the most notable examples of a divided family was the Franklin family. Benjamin Franklin supported independence. His son, William Franklin, the royal governor of New Jersey, remained loyal to the Crown. Their choices placed them on opposite sides of history, and their relationship never fully healed.

Independence did not happen outside conflict. It happened in the middle of it. Gaining independence was complicated, just like life. It required choices.

As we celebrate Independence Day, I keep coming back to this idea: freedom is not only something we honor. It is something we put to work in the choices we make.

This July 4th, I hope you enjoy the holiday, the people around you, and the freedom we are fortunate to have.

I also hope you take a few minutes to ask yourself:

Enjoy your July 4th holiday.

Make it one of your best ever.

Until next time,

Laura Burford

Laura Burford - Consulting Mastery ​

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Have a question? Send me an email at Laura@lauraburford.com.

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