My friend and co-host on The Caregivers Bakery, CJ Golden is my guest blogger this week. CJ has climbed the mountain to independence from rules, negativity and restraint more than once. I am sure you all have also. Let us know what your take-aways from the thoughts she shares with us in this blog.
Several years ago, I sent a message to those who follow me on the various social media sites. Contemplating hosting a podcast, I asked what topics might be of interest to my prospective listeners. I received several intriguing suggestions, one of which was independence.
Well, the podcast has not yet come to be, but that particular subject struck a strong chord within me. And so, here is my take on the word, independence – in text rather than voice.
As I contemplated the word my first thoughts turned to Independence Pass, a gorgeously scenic, high mountain pass (12,095 feet elevation) in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. It is basically the backdoor out of Aspen. How was it that this specific piece of highway came to be named Independence Pass? I hadn’t a clue and so turned to my pal Google, which supplied me with all the information I was seeking.
Independence Pass, first known as Hunter Pass had once been the limit of the European settlement in that region as the land beyond was reserved for the Ute people. It was on July 4, 1879 that a group of prospectors, in defiance of the governor’s order, crossed the pass, thus giving it the name of Independence Pass.
Haven’t many of us, at one point in our lives, crossed such an Independence Pass to enable us to grow in strength, courage and fortitude? And doesn’t that crossing help empower us to become the unique individuals we are meant to be?
I’ve heard many stories of people who found themselves in situations where they could either slink back down the same side of the mountain from which they had come or pull up the resolve to cross the pass into independence, independence from unnecessary boundaries, rules, limitations and restraints.
Becoming independent doesn’t just happen. It requires us to climb the peaks that would serve to restrain our growth; sometimes bucking the system and negativity that tries to hold us back. It requires a fierce determination to better our situations and learn to fend for ourselves.
We need to be:
Tenacious in our undertakings
Accepting of our own abilities
Optimistic that all will turn out as we desire
Grateful for the strengths we have
Imaginative in our planning for our future
Radiant in throwing only positive thoughts to the Universe
Loving in knowing our own worth and the good that we deserve in our lives
Take some time to think about the “independence passes” you have crossed in your life. What others lay ahead? Crossing a pass is never easy, but the gains at the other side can often be life altering. It is only with this effort that we can, I believe, find our inner strength and live our lives as the strong and independent individuals we were meant to be.
Author and inspirational speaker, CJ Golden, has a passion for helping others find joy in their life journeys. Her first book, Tao of the Defiant Woman, was born out of a personal need to find her own inner strength. She then brought her Tao and defiant attitude to teen and pre-teen girls through Tao-Girls Rule! Recently she became caregiver to her husband, Joe, after he suffered cancer-related strokes. Blogging about that, the greatest challenge of her life, she turned her work into her newest book: One Pedal at a Time.
You can visit her at www.cjgolden.com
and find her at The Caregiver’s Bakery
Thank you for sharing this from C.J. Golden. I loved the paragraph that began with Independence doesn’t just happen. I related to it with my current work situation. I have volunteered to be a mentor and attend the meetings about it, and seek out other opportunities to learn and share what I learn with others. When one knows what they have to offer, and are stifled from sharing it, seeking it out on one’s own is a way to provide it and it is liberating like independence gives one.