Honor Freedom

Hello Again, it’s me, Joseph and I’m on the move. Truth be told, I’m always on the move because I always believe there’s something more to learn, to wonder about, to process, to celebrate, to discover. Because Memorial Day Weekend is here, I’m feeling grateful for freedom and the many ways it applies to my life.

Freedom to Keep Becoming You
I’m an entrepreneur by nature, and I have the freedom to own my own business and I can honestly say I love it. You can do the same, if that’s what floats your boat. Maybe not right now. Maybe your current circumstances don’t permit you to be in business for yourself. As long as you’re still breathing, you have options. Get yourself a gig or side hustle, doing what you love because you never know what opportunity is just around the corner.

Or, maybe you’re stuck and what you’re doing is no longer what you want to do. Life is never a straight line. Research, retrain, make a move. We are all, as my BFF Michelle shares, in the process of becoming:

“Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.”
― Michelle Obama, Becoming

If you’re not where you want to be I encourage you to keep becoming because you can.

Freedom to Love
Love is love is love is love– ALL. DAY. LONG. We’re not just talking about being in a relationship. We’re also talking about being human. My freedom not only gives me the right to love whomever I want to love; it also gives me the power to love others well and support them in whatever ways they need. The only way to advance the cause of social justice is to work together. Within each one of us is a passion to do what is right. In the end, it’s love that moves us to action and it will take courage to act.

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.”

There are so many places in the world where there are no choices. Let’s choose wisely and take care of each other.

Freedom to Create
Yes, all you DIY-ers out there, go ahead and create something fabulous. All you artists, singers, dancers, chefs, painters, poets and more- we need you! Innovate, celebrate, shake us up and make us think with your words, art and creations that add so much texture and spice to our lives.

Do not ever forget, dear reader, that you too, are a creator. Every day, in many ways, you make choices that mold and shape your future.
Create a life that reflects what you value.
Take a break. Take a hike. Take a vacation. (#igotyou #pineapplerocrentals)
Take time to define what you need to keep becoming your best self.

As I pause to think about Memorial Day, it’s humbling to realize that someone would give up their tomorrow so that I might enjoy my today. Freedom is never free. I am grateful for those who continue to fight for its cause.

“The brave die never; though they sleep in dust, their courage nerves a thousand living men and women.” M. Savage

Honor those who have gone before you by having the courage to live your very best life. Those who gave all are counting on it.

Joseph