Today I woke up, and I have the choice to do what I want with my day.
I can openly speak about what is on my heart to say,
I can express my opinion through writing words, and even publish it for the whole world to see online. I can disagree with you.
I don’t spend time worrying that someone trying to silence me is going to knock on my door and arrest me because of my beliefs.
I don’t have to hide who I am.
I can eat what I want. I can make my own decisions. I can walk the streets without being paranoid about what I am wearing. I know if something happens, I can get help.
My husband and I can raise our family the way we see fit. We can have as many kids as we want, and that our bodies our able to have. I can give birth at home or in a hospital. We can choose the medical care we receive.
If we want to responsibly own guns, for protection and sport, we can.
If we want to start a business or ministry or buy a big chunk of land and live off of it one day, we are able to.
I can choose the career I want.
Any thoughts that I am limited by where I was born and who I was born to, the gender I am, or even my education are just an illusion.
I can rise above that.
I can make something of my life.
I can travel wherever I want.
I can produce wealth.
I can give it all away.
I can make a difference in the world.
I can make life better for my children.
I can live without fear.
Whether I choose to see the bad or the good in this country is up to me.
What I do with my freedom is my own responsibility.
What I do with what’s been given to me is my choice,
My life.
It is not dictated by anyone else. It’s between me and God.
The majority of the world can’t say this.
They can’t claim this.
They live in fear and instability,
Their individual rights don’t exist, according to their government, or lack thereof.
Life, liberty and pursuing happiness is a far off goal that feels unattainable.
Because oppression rules them,
Power and greed are in charge.
The weak are items to be used and discarded.
There is no justice.
Evil reigns.
You can argue with me all you want.
You can scoff at the idea of patriotism and point out all the wrongs,
(That was once me. I wanted to live anywhere but here. I wasn’t grateful.)
You can live under constant fear that soon all this will be gone.
That one day you’ll get a knock on your door and everything will change.
Liberty will just be a distant memory.
That may be true….but...
It doesn’t have to be.
That’s your choice.
And mine.
We create our own future.
And the fact remains,
This morning, if you’re an American, you’re free.
The world is open for you.
Nothing is holding you back.
And it’s because ordinary people throughout our bloody history, felt something, saw something, valued something…
FREEDOM.
They knew the potential. They saw beyond their own temporary existence.
They knew what they wanted for their great-grand children.
They knew the endless possibilities in a people who are truly free.
They knew that one act of heroism mattered,
That it could change the course of history.
And it did.
Today I woke up, and I have the choice to do what I want with my day.
Thank you.
brookelouvier.com 
Beautifully and well said. Thank you – we are indeed free because of the brave.