Independence, and the future for mine

 Today is Independence Day 2021. 245 years ago the founders of our country made the official break from England. I was born in the year 1976, 200 years after this day. By extension, I have always felt very patriotic. In fact, unless I was born on July 4, instead of March 20th, I don't think I could get any more patriotic. 

I thoroughly enjoy this holiday. Not just what it stands for but because for one day, it seems that all of our differences as Americans melts away for 24 hours. We somehow are calm on this day, even if we don't agree with each other. Of course, there are the crazies (who is keeping me inside this year instead of at my brothers) and those who really do too much of the "go all out" vibe. Be we are together it seems to celebrate this monumental moment in our country's history on this day every year.

In the past, its meant throwing a big bbq at my parents house in the country for all my friends, perfecting my bbq chicken recipe and grilling, and grilling everything from hot dogs and burgers to veggies and fruit (yes, fruit...you should try it sometime if you haven't). It meant having at least 20 if not 30 of my closest friends playing games together, sharing delicious family recipes, and just enjoying every moment of this day. Its also meant going to Great America and enjoying the amusement park, walking extensively in one day, eating tasty foods that aren't good for you, and then watching fireworks as the park closes. Its meant my childhood memories of my god-family and my family pulling together to throw a frog feed for our two families - yes, I didn't stutter, a frog feed - that got so big from everyone inviting friends that eventually  over 500 people started coming!!! (at least that's the last number I remember hearing). We had to cancel soon after - it was just too much. 

This year, I really wanted to go to my brother's - but the weariness in me of the past 16 months has started to catch up. I've been trying to compensate by enjoying my 3 day weekends (that will finally go away next week, beginning July 12). Three day weekends are great. They really are. I'm not complaining. At all. But you can't build a business that lost all of their staff, and most of their students because of a global pandemic. Its just hard. Hiring for us isn't easy either. Once we do find people, they have to go through extensive training. Realistically, it's at least two months before they can teach regularly, and ideally more like four months before they really are ready to help enroll new students (this is my opinion though - others in my business may have differing views). And that's if they stay. Some you get through training class and they decide to leave - and a lot of the times its because though this job can be fun, it's a job. It's not just about dancing - you have to teach, keep learning, keep training, be professional - and a lot just want to dance. Its not the whole job, but its the part that people want. And so they either weed themselves out, or we have to do it. At the end of the day, its a business.

But it's a business that helps people in ways that no one else can, or has been able to. I fully believe in the power that dance has on people. It is THE proven way to help prevent and curb the effects of dementia and alzheimer's. Ballroom Dancing. Ballroom Dancing does that. Not chess, not exercise, not crossword puzzles. Ballroom Dancing!!!! People much smarter than me have done 20-30 year studies to prove it. It's awesome! I love what I get to do for a living.

I'm going to pause here and get a little spiritual on you....

I believe 100% that God exists. I believe that Jesus died for all of us (even the most heinous of us) so we can have a perfect relationship with God and have eternal life. He is my Lord and my Savior - and at the end of the day life means nothing without Him. I just want to clarify that God is still the number one reason that can change a persons life, can change it for the best. More so than ballroom dancing. 

But Ballroom Dancing is one exceptional tool to help people change their life for the better that God has given us to use. Its only one pathway; but its a great one, and the one that I choose to use on a daily basis where my God-given gifts can be used to help people He loves - and He loves every single one of us.

I'm interrupted right now with sparkling fireworks that I can just see above the backyard fence. It reminds me of our independence and mine in general. It reminds me of the little decisions we make and the big ones we make on a daily basis. But mostly it reminds me that we live in a country that allows us to make our OWN DECISIONS. We are so lucky in this country. So lucky. And then really, it isn't luck, huh? Hundreds of thousands of people over the past 300+ years have given their lives so we can still have freedoms today. And I have neighbors who balk at that - who take it for granted. It angers me so. But then lives were sacrificed for them, too. It's such a vicious cycle.

Anyway, I was reminded that I made a big decisions a few weeks ago. It won't have repercussions for awhile but its a decision that will shape my life. It's big. Not little in the slightest. And yet I have a calmness that even if it turns out to be the wrong decision or I fail miserably, that its going to be okay. I will be okay. The people around me with be okay. The people who love me will be okay. That my life will be okay no matter what.

Because I live in the United States of America, the home of the free and the brave. The place where shimmering fireworks in the sky right now are supposed to remind us of the BIGGEST DECISION the original leaders of our country made 245 years ago - and arguably over a hundred years before that - to found a new country where people can live free.  Though that independence will always be tarnished with the fact that we took it away from the people first here - it is still the reason we are all here and can say we live in a free country. 

Lastly, there will always be some kind of bad that goes with the good. We live in a fallen world. There is evil we have to contend with - and sometimes its within us. But we have a special place in history living in this time and in this country. My hope and prayer is that people stop disrespecting it - and start understanding how very lucky we are. 

Anyway, the fireworks are really going now. I was going to head to Morgan Hill because I thought I wouldn't see any here. But I forget sometimes that the American Spirit is live and well. The media makes me think it isn't even here anymore. But my neighbors, this city and the surrounding cities don't care that fireworks are now illegal - because you can't stop people from celebrating such a momentous day in our history. Let the fireworks begin!

Happy Independence Day, everyone! Happy 4th of July 2021, my American friends!

Lots of Love,

Tiffany 💋💥