What does Independence Day mean to you? Here's what it means to me....

Hi Julie!

> Dien, my family has its North American roots
> in Philadelphia. We were there back in the
> 17th Century, amazingly enough. Perhaps you
> walked along the same cobblestones as my
> Great Great Great Great Great Grandparents!

Julie, I think it's likely that I did.... I walked around quite a bit of Philly! :)

I didn't speak of it in my post, but one of my heroes has a strong association with Philadelphia -- Benjamin Franklin. Businessperson, publisher, author, scientist, inventor, and statesman!

I think my view of Benjamin Franklin is like how you view Leonardo da Vinci, Julie -- they were both geniuses of their time! And they show that you don't have to put limits upon yourself.... Why artificially box yourself into a single category for your whole life?

Benjamin Franklin was truly one of the greatest people in history.... While I may not always agree with everything he wrote, I nevetheless have great admiration for him. And many of his principles of success are still true today!

"To be thrown upon one's own resources, is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previously unsusceptible." -- Benjamin Franklin.

I'm sure that most of us who have taken the leap, so we are "thrown upon" our "own resources" have found this to be true.... You discover that there is more talent within you than you may have realized.... :)

- Dien Rice