Because of the brave.
Today I am reflecting on the many blessings I have living in this country. Wow, it is amazing! I truly have the opportunity to make all of my own choices: where to live, how to live, how many children to have, how/where I worship, how I dress, voice my opinions, vote in elections, my transportation, my career, what I eat... I could truly go on and on.
I am SO SO grateful for all those who have sacrificed to allow me those rights!
"These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated." ~ Thomas Paine
I don't EVER want to take my freedom for granted, but I know I sometimes do. I'm grateful we have a day set aside to celebrate it. I want my children to understand how blessed they are to live in the country.
I think that one of the best ways I can show respect to those who have sacrificed to allow us our freedom, is to use it to improve myself, my family, my neighborhood...
Some of the things I have been thinking of to do this:
1) VOTE!! We get to vote and have a say!! And don't just go check a box, do a little bit of research! One vote can truly make a difference!
2) Serve in the community. With the fire in Pocatello, there are so many obvious ways to help out right now, but there are ALWAYS opportunities! There are always local soldiers and their families that we can help out, too.
3) Be educated. We don't all need to be biologists or historians, but we all need to take advantage of our unlimited opportunities to educate ourselves.
4) Inspire others. Your friends, your children. Help them see how much it means to you to have FREEDOM!
5) Have a dream! The song from Tangled is running through my head right now! Haha! But seriously! Make a goal and go for it! We have all the opportunity in the world! My friend just did a post about her dreams and asked what others' dreams are, so I thought I would share some of mine!
-Be debt free! Can't wait to be debt free other than our mortgage! But I REALLY can't wait to never even have a mortgage payment!
-Do a triathlon. I will be taking swimming lessons to get better at swimming for this, but I'm looking forward to that, too!
-Teach pro bono piano lessons. I have always wanted to teach lessons, I just don't want to charge for them.
-Improve my home/yard(paying cash!) and improve it's value.
-Earn a trip to Hawaii for Jared and I with my Mary Kay business. I'm halfway there!!
-I love photography, and would love to take a photography class and really learn how to use a camera.
-I always wanted to learn how to use photoshop.
-Can't wait to serve a mission someday.
-I would really like to teach financial classes someday. Just basic principles that have changed our life.
Thank you, Charlotte, for inspiring me to write them down! It makes me so excited to SEE them like this.
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing, Melody! Good luck on your triathlon!
Beautiful thoughts Mel! I, too, love our country! And I'm so glad you've become passionate about being financially free and wanting to educate people about it. That's how we feel!
In college, Wade was going to be a physical therapist or research genetics or something else with a science background. But when we took a finance class together as newlyweds 8 years ago, we both realized how few people really understand and follow basic smart money management principles. So he switched majors and has been teaching finance classes and mentoring families ever since. He LOVES his work and is really good at it, too. I can't wait to hear stories of YOU someday teaching financial literacy. You'd be great!
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