DEPENDENT ON INDEPENCE

There is a line in the Declaration of Independence that has long intrigued me: “all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.” It intrigues me because of the truth of it. We do suffer, and usually quietly, when we find ourselves stuck in situations we don’t quite know how to get out of.

250 years later, and not much has changed. What foresight, intuition and deep understanding of the human condition those signers had. At its core, ‘Independence’ signifies freedom from the control, influence, or support of others. It is that quality of standing alone and standing tall without being propped up by anything but your own two feet.

Not everyone has the courage. Many of us have it only in moments. But think of it this way: we are dependent on our independence. Without it, we’re just worms wiggling through the soil. And while we serve a purpose for those big, blooming flowers that boast, ‘Look how beautiful I am!’ We still spend our lives digging tunnels that no one will ever see.

There is a line in the poem, “If,” by Rudyard Kipling which resonates here:

“If you can watch the things you gave your life to broken, And stoop and build ’em up with wornout tools;”

It is hard to stand up to bullies and even harder to rebuild the damage they have done. Hardest of all is to stand tall through the reparation of it all. But think of it this way: Slouching is linked to lower self-esteem, reduced energy, and negative self-talk. Standing upright, will boost alertness, increase confidence, support emotional regulation, and even increase persistence during stressful tasks!

So, that is what I wish for all my readers on this Fourth of July weekend: to stand up straight even if those around you are crooked. Enough said.