The Fourth of July.
A celebration of America’s declaration of independence from the clenches of the British monarchy. Fireworks, grilled meats, beer, parades. And one common theme throughout: Freedom.
July 4 is America’s Independence Day.
But when is your Independence Day?
I believe each of us has lived at least one single day that has brought us a personally life-altering freedom. These are our Personal Independence Days — and just like the Fourth of July, they’re worth honoring. Your day(s) probably won’t be as climactic as the one that commemorates severing ties from a ruling nation, but take a few minutes to think and you’ll surely recall one or more celebratory moments.
Maybe it was the day you:
- Paid off your student loans,
- moved to a new city,
- escaped a negative relationship,
- graduated from school, or
- made a significant lifestyle change.
Mine was April 1, 2015, when I took the leap to leave my “normal” job and venture out on my own. At the time, I didn’t know where it would take me, and I was scared — but I knew that at the very least, the situation would force me to learn and grow. My decision, and ultimately that day, have put me on a path of freedom that I couldn’t have even imagined back then.
When was your Personal Independence Day? And how will you create your next one?
🎉🇺🇸 And now, some fun facts about America’s Independence Day:
- The legal separation of the United States from Britain was actually on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence. I guess “the second of July” just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only Declaration of Independence signers to later be elected president of the United States, both died on July 4.
- New York City hosts the largest July 4th fireworks display in the country. (Somehow I’ve lived in NYC for 9 years but have yet to see them.)
