Land of the Free

Did anyone shoot off fireworks for Independence Day?  I didn’t have to because all my neighbors shot them off for us!  Always cool to see fireworks and the beauty they display.  However, if you saw my backyard and driveway the day after Independence Day, you would think we had an arsenal of fireworks. 
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Apparently all those fireworks and rockets decided to drop in our yard, roof, and car.  I never thought about the fact that fireworks can cause a ton of trash!  It blew my mind (pun) the leftover of trash fireworks cause.  And also it makes it impossible for people shooting the fireworks to clean up after it.  How are they going to know where the pieces of plastic will fall?  Apparently, some of the fireworks exploded on the house as well.  You can see the scorch marks on our house and my neighbors house.  However, no damage was done, but a couple of scuff marks on the car and house.  But no fires, just a lot of clean up.  God has surely blessed us in allowing us to pick of firework leftovers!

But, Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays.  I just love the atmosphere that surrounds it.  I feel like there is a lot of positivity in the air, and the fireworks are this symbol of celebration!  So, I never mind picking up the trash from fireworks.  It’s like I like eating an apple, eventually that apple will be a core that you can’t eat and you just throw it away.  I have no idea if that makes any sense! 

I am still riding the positive energy that Independence Day gives off!  It always makes me proud of not just my citizenship, but my heritage.  I didn’t grow up as a typical American (if there is such a thing!).  I grew up eating kimchi, rice, Korean marinated pork and beef, mandoo (dumplings), nengmyun (cold noodles), kongnamul (bean sprouts), and cham-gi-reum (sesame oil) was the staple.  My school lunch came in containers when my other friends lunch came in ziplock bags. 

Whenever I think of Independence Day, on the 4th of July, I remember my upbringing, heritage, struggles, and survival.  I am honored to be living in this great country and I am honored that I can live my life that I choose any way I want to.  What is great about being an American is that we are all different.  Everyone of us grew up differently.  Each one of us has a certain family go to dish, has a different bedtime, grew up with certain family traditions.  Just because we are all different, doesn’t mean we can’t find friendship with each other. 

Life would be pretty dang boring if all of us are the same.  We are diverse because God made us all very unique!  The United States of America is a melting pot of culture, heritage, accents, language, and ethnicities.  We can all trace our family background somewhere other than the United States.  But isn’t it amazing that God has brought us all here in this Land of the Free?
 
We are here together in one nation.  We have our differences and that should be embraced.  Instead of trying to divide ourselves, and allowing media to tell us that we should all think the same or that if you think differently you are wrong, let us embrace our diversity.  Embrace it, not arrogantly show it off, but just humbly live your life with serenity.  Never think your difference is a hinderance with other people around you.  Live your life, live you life well, others will see how amazing you are.  Live you life and never let anyone tell you that you can’t live it. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day.   God bless you all and God bless the United States of America!

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