One of the best July 4ths on record

Is there any better American holiday than the 4th of July?  It really is the Thanksgiving of the summer.  The whole fam headed up to Warsaw, Indiana and Winona Lake.  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have a place there and between our family and my wife’s two sister’s families we had just a great time.

Hard not to have fun on a lake, with a nice speed boat, a deluxe pontoon, jet skis, a family corn hole tournament, beverages of choice, family banter, sunscreen, watching your nephews get bounced around on a tube hydroplaning behind the boat at about 55 mph, nieces and nephews and aunts and uncles to handoff, for a brief time(s), your 18 month old terrorist (however cute) to, and more beverages of choice with a lime.

Along with all the fun, were a few real moments of pure relaxation and actual inspiration.  Somehow my brothers-in-law, a family friend and I managed to sneak out to the pontoon just prior to the start of the fireworks over the lake.  Seriously, I have not been on a ton of pontoon boats in my time but in my estimation this thing is basically like a yachtoon – deluxe leather seats, concert speakers, very very nice.

The boat is docked but obviously on the water and I get a great view of the fireworks as I lay back on these seats and listen to patriotic tunes being broadcast from the local radio station.  My only concern is who is going to interrupt this and how long will I get away with this?

The fireworks start – the boom, the flash, the music, the comfort and I just was able to clearly reflect how – I really do not relax enough.  I do not relax enough – this is so nice.  We don’t take the time and we need it. 

My next thought was – this is America right here.  This is the best.  It’s not bad news, cynicism, crime, alleged recession, Obama, McCain, any of that – it is family, fun, and freedom – marked with fireworks.

Look, we have moments of relaxation and we can experience episodes of inspiration but somehow it all ends up worklike to an extent – and that is all good but I want you to try and stop for a minute and look for inspiration through relaxation.  Take the simple times and just reflect, decompress, and soak in the pure joy.  Take something simple serious – for only yourself.  Soon.

I hope you had a great 4th but if you didn’t – go freakin’ relax with intentionality, listen to the Best of Bill Withers, (July 4th is his birthday), have a beverage of your choice, count all your blessings, and feel life.