In(ter)dependence

Independence day is celebrated in a bit different fashion in my home than most, in that I force all my family members to spell out their names with sparklers as I take pictures instead of allowing them to freely wave them around as they please.





(I would include more photos of our Fourth of July outings though I am saving them for Reveal Day. So stay tuned for updates later.)

Normally my family and I will take folding chairs and our dogs over to a nearby school and watch fireworks that are being launched at the country club next to the school. Though due to the rain we just stood out on our driveway with coats draped over us and a collapsing umbrella while singing our anthem and "I Am Proud to be an American" (which evidently we only know portions of the latter song and would just belt out the portions we knew).

Independence is a crazy thing. I have learned a lot about independence, dependence and interdependence this past year. I don't think we can be completely independent, we are always pulling from one another and those from the past, we need each other. I will be moving to LA soon, I cannot do it on my own. I learned the importance of interdependence in a book about support raising and that interdependence is a rather biblical thing. I see interdependence displayed in nature whether it be peonies and ants or trees and produce needing honey bees for pollination and bees needing the plants for honey. I have also seen the importance of breaking free from unhealthy dependence when looking at the history of Haiti or even countries like the Philippines. Had France given Haiti their independence for free, there might still be public schooling and they might not be in the same predicament they are in. Now they seem to be in a constant state of dependence on everyone else. I am in no way blaming France for anything, because no one's slate is exactly clean. Though I do wish to see Haiti in a state of healthy interdependence one day.

I read an interesting article in Relevant Magazine the other day and find they are spot on and it stirs up excitement for the future of Haiti. It is kind of a lengthy article but definitely worth reading. Also I found another great listen/read on business and dynamics in Haiti on NPR's This American Life.

All I am saying is no man is an island and no island is an island. Wait...what? Yes, that is what I mean.