I am an American by choice. I didn’t come to the USA seeking asylum or protection from religious, ethnic, or political persecution as some of my distant relatives had to do; some finding their way to the United States to escape the horrors of the holocaust, or later fleeing Soviet Russia. I came in pursuit of new adventures and opportunities. It took me 8.5 years to become a U.S. citizen. And I am forever grateful for the wonderful life and community that I’ve built here. I greatly appreciate being able to continuously learn and grow, personally and professionally. To me, being an American goes beyond a place of birth or identifying documents. It is about commitment to the values that mark the foundation of the country - human rights values.
As we celebrate the birth of the greatest country in the world, I reflect on what it means to be American at a time when families are separated at the border, when the Supreme Court approved Trump anti-Muslim Travel Ban, and when it seems that Roe v. Wade might be in danger. I find myself grappling with what I perceive as the decline of core humanistic values, the idea of equal rights and being a beacon of hope. America was built on courage in rejecting the oppressions of the past and the determination to secure freedom, liberty, and justice for all. And yet the narrative has changed to that of fear: fear of loss of jobs (immigrants steal jobs), fear of violence (immigrants are criminals), and fear of pluralism and diversity.
We can only remain the land of the free if we also continue to be the home of the brave by viewing the world as abundant. It is our fear of scarcity that lead us to hoard, to cling to material things as well as discriminatory viewpoints, to refuse to reach out a helping hand or share our good fortune with the less fortunate. When we stop worrying about imagined lack, we open up our world to possibilities and to actively invest in the world we wish to have, a world of open doors, open hearts, and helping hands.
For 4th of July, here are 4 principles of an abundant mindset:
1. Thinking big: an abundant mind sees the bigger picture and recognizes possibilities and opportunities.
2. Being Content: an abundant mind appreciates what is and counts the blessing.
3. Living Enthusiastically: an abundant mind is an optimist and creates positive personal impact.
4. Embracing Change: an abundant mind is quick to learn, adapt, grow and thrive.
Adopting a national abundant mindset, we can re-commit to the principles that made this country great and expand the American Dream to make our world bigger, more connected, kinder, and more inclusive. Let’s be the change we want to see and open ourselves to better understand different people and cultures. One way to do this is to read. Books can expand our minds and inspire the power of human connection. Check out Global Citizen’s 10 Powerful, Uplifting Summer Reading Books for Global Citizens.
May we be brave enough to exercise our freedom and use it as an opportunity to do what is right within the community in which we live and work and as global citizens of the whole wide world.
I wish you Happy 4th of July in hope of a renewed national spirit of courage, liberty, and justice for all.
