Independence, Interdependence and Connectedness
July 4th, 2008 by Carol WoodliffHappy Independence Day for Readers in the United States. Today we celebrate the birth of the United States as a nation. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Fourth of July. Today a short musing on Independence, Interdependence and Connectedness.
This morning as I write this I’m struck by how we are celebrating our Nation’s Independence at a time in the world where we are more connected than ever. The Internet has made is possible for this blog to be read anywhere in the world that there is computer access to the Internet and an understanding of the English language. That’s pretty amazing!
As a country we’ve placed lots of value on Independence. The declaration spoke of the self evident truth that all men are created equal and have the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We love symbols of rugged individualism such as the American Cowboy. We value people who “pull themselves up by their bootstraps” and succeed.
But also rooted deep in the tradition of these independent people was the sense of interdependence and connectedness. Our 13 colonies would not have succeeded in forming the nation without making that stand as a unit. Pioneers relied on neighbors at a distance to help them succeed and survive. Our rugged individualism has always been rooted in a deep sense of community.
And no matter how individualistic we try to be, my spiritual beliefs tell me we are all one and connected.
What does this mean for us as individuals trying to live well and stress less? There are a great many things to ponder this day of Independence. I’ll phrase them as questions that came to me today.
- Am I exercising my right to pursue happiness? Or am I just going through the day and getting by? (On the whole for me, the answer is yes. But some days, I need to remember that I can choose to pursue happiness or I can pursue unhappiness just by how I look at the events of my day!)
- Have I formed an alliance with others of common purpose to help me with my goals? (Yes and I always welcome more to the alliance!)
- Am I trying to go it alone when asking for help would be more practical or fulfilling? (This one is where I really can do better. Asking for help has been hard for me in the past. I’m working on this one.)
- Do I take time to remember at my connectedness with God/the Universe/Others? (I’ve been better at my meditation and gratitude practice but there is always room for improvement here.)
These questions are good to ask at any time but I think they are especially right today!
Happy Fourth Everyone! Stay Safe and enjoy your weekend.
Hugs
Carol
