Happy 4th of July!
July 4th! Celebrating independence, from national freedom to location independence
Coming from the US, my privilege does not escape me. Still, I’ve always felt a twinge of angst on our national Independence Day. Why, well, it’s complicated. I appreciate my country, I’m proud of so many accomplishments our citizens have made & at the same time - I’m at times embarrassed. A friend recently shared an article written by an American traveler on “How to be less American abroad”.. & well, her article was profoundly American. A voice of condescension at others who “Just don’t understand us”. I cannot lie - it was cringe.
It’s a weird feeling & I can’t explain it. After years of traveling, you start to realize that you no longer belong to any one place. You bring bits & pieces of every country with you & I don’t think I’m alone here. When I meet Americans who have moved abroad, we have so much in common.. yet when I go back to the US, I feel distinctly out of place. And this says something.
Still, I’m grateful to the amazing people who have given their lives to create, protect, & preserve the freedom on which the USA is built. The fact that I can publicly say “Sometimes I’m embarrassed to be American” is privilege enough. But add to that, the privilege I’ve had to obtain an amazing education, to start my own businesses, to travel the world, & to eventually move abroad with minimum hassle.
This morning, I gave myself the time to really be grateful for this day - and for how far the world has come when it comes to different kinds of freedoms.
To be a location independent female is my modern declaration of freedom - freedom from geographical constraints, to choose our work environments & to blend lifestyle with livelihood.
Here I am last year, July 4th. I rented a car with my friend @ifeanyipto for a 1-day crazy tour, driving all over north of Israel.
In celebrating the 4th of July, we not only honor those historical strides toward national independence but also celebrate our personal strides towards spatial & professional freedom.
So here’s to a modern Independence day - celebrating it all!
