Today I’m reminded of why I chose to become an American citizen.
At 19 years old, I was pretty unconscious. My husband was in the military and I needed to become an American citizen so he could get his security clearance. It was all pretty clear what needed to be done but honestly, not much thought went into it. It was a natural progression of things.
I’ve lived in the US since I was 13. I went through Junior High and High School here, studied Civics, and there was no reason to think I’d move back to Canada. Not that there was anything wrong with Canada, but my home was here.
So I answered all their questions, my neighbors and friends answered all their questions including whether or not I’d ever been a prostitute, or done drugs or committed any other crimes. I passed with flying colors, and we all laughed about what seemed to be the “silliness” of such questions.
The test was pretty easy for someone who’d been raised here, but I know that many people study hard and learn english so they can write their one sentence and understand the way our government works. So they can live here and vote and have all the civil liberties that our country has to offer. They make a conscious choice to be here and have a better life.
Most of us go through life not really considering or appreciating how lucky we are to live in a country that affords us such freedoms. We’re unconscious of why we’re here and live out our days not really considering that we have such freedom of choice. We think it’s a right and not a privilege.
Today, I too choose to make a conscious choice to be free.
Not only to be a citizen of the United States, and to appreciate all that that means, but to be free of my own unconscious fears, my own old patterns and stories that have been holding me back and keeping me stuck.
I declare independence from my own unconsciousness, in order to live the conscious life I was born to live.
A life filled with joy, following my path and helping others to do the same. A life filled with choice day after day and the awareness to make the right choices every day.
I encourage you to do the same.
Declare independence from your old fears and move forward in your life, whatever that means to you. Go ahead – write it down! Share it if you dare.