Happy Fourth on the Fifth.

Thanks to the-parenting-magazine.com for the great photo

How was your fourth?

(Mine was just fine, thanks for asking…)

So we think “Yea Freedom!” and “Oooooh” and “Ahhhh” at the fireworks and sometimes, in the midst of holiday traffic we might even think a little bit about this freedom thing that we’ve all been celebrating.

Like, what does it mean to you?

Free speech, Freedom to congress, right to bear arms and so on. These are the biggies that come immediately to mind (and also they’re from The Bill of Rights, not The Declaration of Independence but that’s just me getting nit-picky.)

But I thought of one that I think is little overlooked. It’s an offshoot of “the pursuit of happiness” clause, which is right smack in The Declaration of Independence.

The freedom to fail.

I think one of the greatest gifts this country gives it’s citizens is the right to try the new, create the daring and fail miserably. And try again. And again. And again.

And because we can fail means we’re unafraid, even encouraged to be entrepreneurial and innovative. Not hard to see why the U.S. is considered the epicenter of new ideas, products and industries because of this.

Personally speaking, I’ve failed and failed SPECTACULARLY. But I pick myself up, dust myself off and keep at it.

There are a lot of countries failure isn’t an option. People are afraid to suggest or try the new, the different, and the potentially better. Or they’re not the right color, creed, or connected enough. Here success is based on the individual, their stamina, their creativity, their product or solution offering and even how well they hustle.

Yes, it’s not perfect playing field but at least you get to play. And play again. And again until you win or give up.

Yes, the freedom to fail is a very powerful thing.

3 Responses to “Happy Fourth on the Fifth.”

1. AJ in Nashville says:

   July 5, 2010 at 11:44 AM

   If indeed the freedom to fail is a very powerful thing, then I must be the most powerful man in the universe! *LOL*

   Great point, Betsy! Happy Cinco de Julio to us all!

   
2. betsy says:

   July 5, 2010 at 1:52 PM

   Wright Bros, Edison, U.S.’s Continential Congress- there’s a long list of successful failures! Here’s to tenacity! Happy 5th on the fourth to you!
3. colleen z says:

   July 6, 2010 at 3:12 PM

   as Dwight D Eisenhower put it…
   Freedom has it’s life in the hearts, the actions , the SPIRIT of (wo)men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed …else like a flower cut from it’s life giving roots, it will wither and die