Independence

This anniversary comes around every year, and so many people share what they think independence truly means, and what we should do with it.

As I think of independence, it strikes me that just like the only Rights we have are what we Defend, we must realize the only Independence we have is what we Exercise! We may think of our independence as freedom of thought, freedom of speech, or freedom of action… in the end it will only be the freedom we choose to invest and manifest, that our independence will become.

If I were to list what my prayers for independence this is what they would be: I pray for independence to live my life the way I determine, I pray for independence in choosing how I make a living, I pray for independence in making lives for the people who need to, I pray for independence in choosing the struggles I wish to win over.

Today, however, is our day to celebrate the independence our great country gained in 1947, our independence to govern and administer ourselves, our independence to coexist peacefully with our neighbors, our independence to defend our sovereignty, our independence to choose what is best for us and to become the best.

— O —

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Make wine, stay happy!

Between friends its always old wine in new bottles, but why is it that in much of life its old whine in new battles? Yes, why old whine in new battles!!

Wine is happiness.  Shared wine is more happiness.

Wine is made with fruit, sugar, water, yeast and time, with a sprinkling of a few other additives, in a very clean and controlled environment so that the ‘must’ (as it is called) does not turn sour. 

The fruit is the result of our toil, our work.  Water is life. Sugar is the appreciation we give to our fruit, and the yeast is the wisdom that gives us our learning from the appreciation over time.  The environment is the context we give to our reflections.  In the wrong or tumultuous context, without the wisdom and appreciation, the wine turns sour, into the whine.

I guess the secret to lasting happiness is to make more wine than whine, to keep making new wine, to appreciate and savor it with friends and loved ones over time.

Cheers! Stay happy!!

— O —