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Juneteenth Image created by freepik.com
This year, June 19th is Father’s Day (Sending love to all you fathers out there!) and it is also Juneteenth — our newest federal holiday!
President Joe Biden signed a bill last year (on June 17th) making Juneteenth the eleventh American federal holiday and the first to obtain legal observance as a federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was designated in 1983.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of legal chattel slavery here in the United States. It was on this day in 1865 (2 months after Robert E. Lee’s surrender effectively ended the Civil War) that Federal troops marched into Galveston Bay, Texas (where over 250,000 humans were still in shackles) and announced that the enslaved people were free by executive decree.
-Freedom Day by Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln
The late, great Abbey Lincoln (my brilliant friend and mentor) sang these words as a part of Max Roach's Freedom Now Suite and they move me every time I hear them (the video is below)!
Freedom Day! Freedom Day! Throw those shackle n' chains away!
Now, you know me, I relate everything to Personal Power. So, here’s my question…. What does Freedom Day mean to you -- in terms of your Personal Power?
For me? I try to live each day of my life as free as I can be. So what does that mean?
It means I do my best to never be a slave to what other people do or say or think or believe.
For instance, I do my best to not be impacted by other people's opinions of me (negative or positive). I recognize that what they think of me is much more a reflection of who THEY are than it is a true depiction of who I am.
I also do my best to practice Response Ability. I have the ability to respond to people (and to life, in general) any way I choose. I don't "have" to get angry. I don't "have" to get sad. I don't "have" to get scared. I can make a different choice. It's not always easy, but it's possible.
A question I ask myself is "Is this situation I am confronted with really, really, REALLY important (in the scheme of things)?". Usually, the answer is "no".
I also ask myself "Will... arguing or being angry or sad or beating myself up etc. change the facts of what happened?". Usually the answer is another "no".
And then, I ask myself "Is there something I can do now to build myself up, calm myself down, and fill myself with peace?" And usually the answer to that question is a resounding "yes". And so...I go do it!
These three questions help me to remain balanced and true to my values, my integrity, and my character no matter what is happening around me.
In essence, I do my best to fortify myself so that the actions, thoughts and beliefs of other people have little to no effect on me and how much joy I am experiencing in any moment. I unshackle myself from other people's behavior all together.
THIS to me is what came with emancipation back in 1865. Not just freedom for our physical bodies (as pivotal and important as that was), but FREEDOM for our minds to THINK what we choose and freedom for our hearts to FEEL as we choose! THIS to me is what Freedom is.
Freedom Day! Freedom Day! Throw those shackle n' chains away!
What about you? What are some of the tools you use to get and remain free (in your heart and in your mind)? Let me know in the comments below.
All my love to you,
Rhonda
SONGTRA: Simply Sing Your Troubles Away! An Online Empowerment Course
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Until then...
May THE FORCE WITHIN be with you!
Rhonda Ross is a singer-songwriter, an Emmy-nominated actress, and a Personal Power Practitioner. For musical, speaking or workshop bookings: email info@TheRhondaRoss.com
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