I had such a wonderful Fourth of July last week.  This time of year brings out such gratitude in me for all of the blessings that we have in this wonderful country.  I went with my family to a parade the morning of July 4th.  As six Air Force jets screamed over our heads as a display of patriotism I really took a minute to reflect on life. 

As I marveled about the freedoms, blessings and abundance that we live in here in the USA, a painful thought crossed my mind.  We live in the greatest country in the history of the world.  There has never been a better place or time to live.  We truly have the choice and means to do what we want and become what we choose. 

People from all over the earth from other nations do anything they can at great risk to come to this country.  I met a student of mine in the Seattle area that came to this country from Vietnam.  He escaped his situation there and lived for a long time in a concentration camp just to get to this country. 

I let him get up in front of a group of students of mine and he railed on us for our lack of vision.  He railed on us for living in this land of opportunity and not living our dreams and playing full out.  He told us we didn’t even realize how good we had it.  We were letting our lives slip away without giving our best and developing ourselves and our talents. 

As I reflected at this parade on the Fourth of July I asked myself why we live in personal servitude in this land of freedom.  Why do we live in fear?  Why are we paralyzed by our dreams?  Why do we choose to be bound by “perceived” limitations?  When are we going to realize that what we achieve directly correlates with what we believe?  Why are people so quick to give up when things look hard?  Why don’t we spend time and effort fighting for what we know we can do instead of spending that same time and energy whining? 

I would like to challenge each of you to take a moment and reflect on your life right now.  Have you lived life as if you were in a land of freedom and abundance?  Or are you living your life in bondage to fear, doubt, self-imposed limitations and others’ negative opinions?

I would recommend that you get you your mind and attitude in line with the principles that govern this great country.  You can accomplish anything you put your mind to.  MAKE IT HAPPEN!