Celebrate your own American Dream this 4th of July

By: Brad Horner

I will be the first to admit that I have been guilty of getting caught up in the whirlwind of ups and downs in the past two years.  It can seem that many business and personal decisions are dictated by elections, the stock market, government regulations and numerous other economic factors that are out of our control.  And that can bring about a helpless, overwhelming feeling – a feeling that may experience from time to time, as well.

Sure, the last two years have been challenging for all of us, but the future is still to be determined.  What lies ahead of us is what we want to make of it, so decide what to be and go be it.

Remember this 4th of July weekend that we all have the ability to pursue and live out our individual American Dreams.  Though the phrase “American Dream” wasn’t popular until historian James Truslow Adams coined it in his 1931 book Epic of America – in which he wrote, “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.“ – the concept dates back to the beginning of our country.  The American Dream is rooted in the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence, which states that “all men are created equal” and that they have “certain inalienable rights” including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

So I dedicate today’s Friday Five to a few of my favorite quotes about life, freedom and the American Dream.
1.    “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” – Thucydides
2.    “The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” – Flora Whittemore
3.    “One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” – Unknown
4.    “Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.” – George Sheehan
5.    “The best things about the future is that it comes only one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln

I wish you and your family a safe and fun 4th of July and hope that you take time to think about and celebrate your own American Dream.