Consider how Americans - now and in times past - have cherished and defended
The freedom of individuals to be and to do.
Consider, too, how the future may unfold.
Contemplate how - a small spark of an idea can ignite newness of thought.
How a vague mental picture can be developed and encouraged to grow.
How - when we give our inspiring thoughts permission to expand -
Unique and very special results can emerge.
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Freedom
Before freedom was a march, it was a walk.
Before it was a walk, it was a series of small steps.
Steps taken by individuals in their own homes,
their own neighborhoods, and their own communities.
Before a step was taken. Before the action began
or a word was spoken, individuals – many of them -
begin to think about life with the freedom to be and to do.
That was where it began. Where it always begins.
Even though we are frequently not aware of it,
a thought – an idea – always gives birth
to the word we utter, the action we take.
The first step taken towards freedom is always
a mental one. It happens in our thought.
It is a refusing – in one’s own thought – to define
the self as a less-than or a have-not somebody.
Quietly - in our own thoughts about our self –
we begin to practice the talk-and-walk of freedom.
First we find freedom in our own thought.
Then we learn how to speak the words and
take the steps that will help us gain
greater freedom in our daily life experiences.
Freedom gained by any group - gender, ethnic,
religious, national – never starts as a grand
group march nor is it won by a single group action.
Always, freedom begins with and is brought forth
by the consistent, steadfast efforts of individuals.
We do it - you and me. We listen to the sound of freedom
in our own thought. Then we are able to speak the honest,
heartfelt words and to follow through with the step-by-step work
We are the ones who do it. We move freedom forward
from idea to actuality. We feel the forward motion of freedom.
We watch the outcome of freedom in our own life and
in the lives of those around us.
Because we have experienced a measure of freedom in our life,
we could never tolerate a return to some before-freedom-existence.
That is why we make the conscious choice to preserve
the victories of freedom we have won and lived.
We accept our responsibility to individually move freedom forward
in our thoughts, with our words, and by our deeds.
We do it for our self - and for those around us.
Step-by-step and stride-by-stride.
(c) Copyright by Pamela Walker Hart, 2005
Let’s carefully choose NOW thoughts that will move us forward - not ones that limit or hold us back. We can choose constructive idea-thoughts that help us be and do our best. When we envision a special something that we want to share with others and do the step by step work to bring it forth, we will discover we are gaining bit by bit the creative freedom to fly.
All best - always
pam
© Copyright 2007 Pamela Walker Hart.
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Dear Friend,
Soon it will be November 23rd - our nationally designated Thanksgiving Holiday. What a wonderful way to bring together Americans with diverse political, religious, and philosophical inclinations and choosings. To unite us in the spirit of thanks-giving.
Most of us realize Thanksgiving is not a uniquely American custom. The giving of gratitude to a higher power for the year’s harvest and for life itself has roots
based in the culture and religion of countries worldwide. But did you know that seven nations of the world besides the United States have official Thanksgiving days? Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Korea, iberia, and Switzerland also observe a national Thanksgiving day.I learned Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving a long time ago. However, I only recently found out about the other countries when I visited the Thanks-Giving Square website. Thanks-Giving Square in Dallas, Texas, was established in 1964 and serves as a national resource for America’s 200 years old thanksgiving tradition. Their website is a reservoir of information about Thanksgiving in America and worldwide. A link to the website is below.
Thanks-Giving Square asserts their mission is “To offer a place for all people to give thanks to God. To witness, to celebrate, and to promote the value and spirit of thanksgiving for both sacred and secular cultures throughout the world.” This mission statement is one each of us might embrace as our own. To do so may encourage more enthusiasm for our own every day giving of thanks to God. For our own every day witnessing, celebrating, and promoting of the value and spirit of thanks-giving in the world around us.
Maybe the dedication of self to the offering of every day, heartfelt thanks for the good and love found in the routine happenings of our life could lead us to anticipate more. To find a larger measure of God's good and love where we are right now. We may even discover that we each have our own special bit of God’s work to do and to deliver to those who share our every day life experiences. That we are the here-and-now doers of God's goodness and delivers of God's love.
When I look, I find so many doers of goodness and deliverers of love in the my every day life. My heart overflows with gratitude to God - and to you! Thank you for your friendship and for your thoughtfulness. For being a vital part of my life. For being a doer of God's goodness and a deliverer of Love’s caring and kindness in my every day life experiences. For encouraging me to do and deliver a bit of my special somethings to the world around me. Thank you!
All best to you - always,
pam
P.S. “In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa
For a virtual visit to Thanks-Giving Square, use the link below
For more about Pam Walker Hart's original art, her MOTHER WISDOM Book, and CREATIVITY Coaching Opportunities and Happenings, VISIT www.pwalkerhart.com
© Copyright 2010 Pamela Walker Hart.
If you wish to copy this material, please ask for permission by writing CreativityInsideOut