Independence Day...What it means to me...

Original posting July 4, 2008

I love the word "independence".

Here is a definition of the word...

(n.) The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.

I don't know about you but reading that sends a rush of excitement to my mind and a desire to embrace that concept. It is easier said than done!! I am not one to set goals (financial, career, material attainment, partnership, etc..) but this one...to achieve independence... would be the one goal I would set for myself...and have done so.

What does this mean to me? It means that I must read about and understand (to the core of my soul) "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Self-reliance means I must think for myself, trust in myself, work to support myself and develop my OWN Constitution...not one that is given to me by someone who may view self and society differently than me. For what is right for you may not be right for me and vice versa.

Self-reliance means that I must either learn how to grow my own food or barter with those who grow it for me. I must build my own home or barter with someone who owns one that will share it with me. I must make my own tools and clothes or barter with those who possess or make them to care for and protect my body. Everything beyond these things are just wants.

The life that American's having been living for over 50 years (since house-hold appliances have made home-life easier..giving us more free time) has cost more (individually, collectively and environmentally) than we are even conscious of. The "wants" that I mentioned are in the form of "stuff". My “stuff” currently resides in two storage places collecting dust and/or mold. I have decided to free myself of most of my things (except for just a few things) and let them go to others who will hopefully make use of them.

A few days ago when we experienced some strong thunderstorms late in the day I looked through the large sliding glass doors to the balcony of my place that overlooks the beach and ocean and noticed a sailboat about 30+ ft. long anchored not more than 1,000 feet from the shore. It is not a normal sight to see (it was the first time I had seen a boat anchored so close to shore) but I spent a lot of time watching the boat and wondering what the people on board were thinking and doing as the lightning and thunder accompanied the downpour of rain. It was a peaceful and solitary reminder to me that while some people spend their lives going to work to make money to buy things and stay grounded...there are others who choose simplicity and life-experiences instead. More and more I feel compelled to embrace my free and independent spirit like the later group of people and forgo the trappings of a material-driven existence. That sailboat was a sign for me to make a change.

Just the other day part of a quote popped into my head (out of nowhere...into now here) when I was thinking of the word "clever". I GOOGLED "sell your cleverness" and got a quote by Rumi "Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment".

This morning I awoke at 6:30 a.m. and made some coffee, took a chair and my tape player w/ a Wayne Dyer tape "Power of Intention" with me down to the shore on the beach. I was really engrossed in the tape and had finished my cup of coffee after 40 min. and all of a sudden Wayne quotes Rumi..."Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment". I had not heard this tape of mine in over 3 years. This is the first tape in a collection of 6 in this one program. I think I am going to find the rest of the tapes and listen to them more closely this time and take more steps to becoming INDEPENDENT and FREE.

Wishing you all a wonderful INDEPENDENCE DAY !!!

NAMASTE’