July 4th Reflections — From Nostalgia to New Mindsets

When I was a kid, the 4th of July was that day.

Everyone was a patriot.

We’d all have on brand new short sets, fresh hairdos, and the neighborhood buzzed early.

My parents would start the grill at 7am — 🙄 — and we’d eat BBQ all day for the next two days. Hot dogs and Jays potato chips from the box for breakfast, watermelon and plums for lunch and Hamburgers with BBQ sauce for dinner.

The fridge packed with sweet peaches, plums, seeded watermelon, and off-brand pop.

When the sun went down, we’d sit on the front porch and watch Al, the guy across the street, put on the hood fireworks show in the alley — mostly Roman candles and sprays that never went higher than six feet.

We had sparklers, smoke worms, firecrackers, and of course the dreaded… M-80’s.

I was always afraid of fireworks, but I still loved to be in the mix.

Honestly… I kinda miss those days.

You never realize how much life changes when you grow up.

Back then, being around friends, siblings, and family just felt normal.

I’m a middle child, so I was always with someone… and yet, kind of not.

Even as a kid, I knew I was different. I knew one day, I’d live a different life.

But truth be told — for a while, July 4th became one of the hardest holidays for me.

My “different life” was on full display.

My failed marriage, my family and what I perceived as failure, felt glaring.

I’d walk Zoey, and every driveway would be full of cars.

The smell of BBQ smoke, kids laughing, families gathered…

It all used to hit me like a reminder that I’d messed it all up.

But perspective is everything.

Over time, I’ve learned to flip the script.

I don’t get sad on days like this anymore.

Because here’s what I’ve realized: my life reflects my deepest inward beliefs.

So instead of self-pity, I choose to reflect on those sweet, nostalgic memories of times past.

I live in the excitement of what’s to come.

Holidays don’t have to be sad, you get to choose.

Frame your world with your mind. Imagine greater.

Happy Independence Day, patriots. 🇺🇸