Updated 10:36am.. I was considering the concept of independence today, not just from the standpoint of 1776, but also as the measure of my individual freedom as a U.S. citizen. In my Google travels, I found an intriguing quote from George Bernard Shaw that negates the idea of true individual independence.

The prolific playwright and socialist suggests that all humans are in fact dependent on each other–no matter how much they would like to think otherwise. He said: “Independence? That’s middle class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth.”

I tossed that quote around on and off throughout the day, and considered its application in my life. In the process, I took a mental inventory of my leadership responsibilities at both home and work, and thought about the extensive list of variables, dependencies, requirements, risks, and potential outcomes I must consider each and every time I am faced with a decision, from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep every day. And at that, the exercise promptly came to an end.

Apparently I don’t have many ‘independence days’ other than the actual 4th of July holiday. I know, waaa; poor spoiled American has to go to work, support a family and make decisions. I’m not complaining, trust me; I am fully aware of how fortunate I am. I spent enough time in third world countries while in the Army to ever take my life for granted. The point here is that–at least in my experience– I think George Bernard Shaw is right: No matter where you live, no matter your lifestyle, you’re probably dependent on at least one person, and probably a lot more.

But is that so bad?

Like most people I have been without my family at times. I have been between jobs. I have gone through periods in my life where I felt alone in the world, without a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to share my pain with. I have been without love for periods of time. I have experienced REAL “independence.” And without a doubt, those were the absolute most depressing times of my life.

Today as I toss fireworks into the street with my kids (oh yeah, we’re doing fireworks), and gobble up bbq steak and potato salad, I also pause to reflect on how great it is to live in a country like the U.S. where I have the freedoms I do. And most importantly, as I try to do each day, I celebrate my dependents, and our dependency on each other and our God, and I thank Him for all of these blessings.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July holiday … especially everyone in retail, working in call centers, etc etc and others who for whatever reason can’t be with their own dependents today.

Quote source: thinkexist.com
Image source: http://www.simonfieldhouse.com
Wikipedia on GBS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Bernard_Shaw