Resolved: Freedom and Independence

      "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof:" ~Leviticus 25:10
   Fireworks, picnics, a long weekend, red, white, and blue pride. 
   These are a few things that the people in the United States have come to see the 4th of July as. I am one of those people. To me, 4th of July was about getting to see fireworks and spending the weekend in different states with my best friend. In 2014 I watched the fireworks in Washington D.C. and 2015 I watched them at a concert in Tennessee. This year I was going to watch fireworks in Flordia, but now it's Tennessee.
   Watching fireworks is not the most important thing to me this year, though. The phrase "Let freedom ring" has been in my head for a couple of days, so I started doing some research. 

   Documents, ideas, team work, and a bell all play a part in the reason America gets to celebrate the 4th of July today.

   In 1776 there was a meeting in the Pennsylvania State House to discuss the thirteen colonies freedom from England. A man from Virginia named Richard Henry Lee came up with a resalution and said: "Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown,an that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved," (The History of the 4th of July). 

   Richard Henry Lee's words resulted in John Adams, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, Robert R. Livingston, and Thomas Jefferson to write and sign the Decloration of Independence. It took time to write the Decloration of Independence, and to proof read it. Therefore, the Decoration of Independence was not finished until July 4th, 1776. 

   It is said that the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was used to gather the people for the very first public reading of the Decleration of Independence on July 8, 1776. However some historians doubt that the Liberty Bell actually rang when the Decloration of Independence was read because the steeple of the bell was in really bad condition by 1776. It's possible that the Liberty Bell is associated with the reading of the Decleration of Independence because a man named George Lippard wrote a fictional story that told of a man waiting to hear that congress had declared independence so he could ring the bell. This story was published in The Saturday Currier in 1847, (The Liberty Bell).

   Freedom was hard to achieve for the men (and women) who sat out to have religous and other freedoms. Freedom is still hard today because there is always someone who disagrees about how things are being run. So, on this 4th of July take a moment to appreciate all that our forefathers had to go through to get us where we are today, and about all the men and women who are away from home keeping us safe and free. Be thankful for your freedom, don't just enjoy "the show." Thank you to our soldiers! And happy 4th of July everyone!

   "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof:" ~Leviticus 25:10

Spring 2016 nail colors

So, I haven't been on here in about five, almost six, months. The ending of 2015 and the beginning of 2016 were stressful times that were filled with things that had to be done. However, I am slowly getting back into a routine of things and am so excited to be posting my first blog post of 2016!

  The first thing I want to post about is a "beauty tip" of sorts. Spring is upon us and it's that time of year when many people get their nails done and want them to look good and have bright colors. I love painting my nails and really using all of the many color options that a girl can have. What I do not like is that some nail polishes chip easily, do not go on smooth, or do not last long. Also, I am not a big fan of getting my nails professionally done. There's nothing wrong with getting a manicure or pedicure, but I'm just the type of girl who doesn't like that. I thought I would always be doomed to use non-lasting nail polish, but then I stumbled upon something in Walmart.

Sinful Colors is a nail polish brand that uses gel nail technology to give a person "salon worthy" nails. I pay about three dollars for a bottle of this nail polish, and in my opinion, it is totally worth it!

The picture on the right is a picture of my nails that I painted about a week ago. When I use the Sinful Color brand it lasts me about three weeks. I love how shiny the color looks after using the top coat, and that I don't have to spend a lot of money at a nail place to get good-looking nails. The colors that I am using this Spring are: 

• I'm Blushing (a soft, creamy pink/nude color)
• Pragmatic (a bright lavender looking purple)
• Alfresco (picture above and to the right)
• Slay Grey from the King Kylie collection (a sparkly gray color)

The other brand of nail polish that I am using is China Glaze. I get my China Glaze nail polish from Sally Beauty Supply and I use a friend's discount, so I pay about four dollars. The colors I am using this spring are:

• Flip Flop Fantasy (a dark coral color)
• Re-Fresh Mint (a mint green color)

Out of the two products, I like Sinful Colors better. It goes on smoother, last longer, and is cheaper. I would love to know what colors you are wearing this spring. You can post your color choices in the comments on this post, or on twitter and Instagram by using the #TravelersThoughtsSpringNails

An open letter to the person battling anxiety

An open letter to the person battling with anxiety:

You are going to get through this and you will win.

You wake up to a new day and you feel fine. You go about your normal routine and you’re read to face the day.

But then, out of nowhere, you feel like you can get nothing accomplished and the day doesn’t look so bright and promising anymore.

You feel depressed, like you just want to curl up in a ball and tune out the rest of the world. Like you want to turn off all of your emotions and escape to something else (the TV, reading, self-harm, drugs, alcohol, all of these can be a person’s escape when anxiety sets in.)

You just cry for, what you think is, no reason. But maybe your subconsciously crying for help or because you’re upset at everything anxiety has taken from you today. Whatever the reason, it’s okay to cry.

Then you get overwhelmed over doing the simplest things. Maybe it’s writing a paper or cleaning house. Maybe it’s going to the grocery store or, even, taking that next step to achieve your dreams. Sometimes, when the overwhelmed part kicks in, you wonder if you just want to see yourself self-destruct because everything might not be as bad as you think it is in this moment. I’m here to tell you that NO! You are not doing this to self-destruct, you’re just having to go to war with your anxiety today.

Finally, the anger sets in. You want to throw things. You want to run away from all of these problems looming over you. You’re mad at yourself for not being able to handle these simple things. You’re mad that your hands are shaking making even the simplest of jobs, like carrying a cup of tea, difficult. Maybe you’re mad at other people and think that they are adding to your anxiety. Maybe you’re even upset with God and wonder why He lets you struggle with this on a daily basis.

Anxiety sucks! And it comes in many forms. But, anxiety can NOT beat you! Anxiety can make you feel like crap for a while, but it makes you stronger. You are a warrior and you’re battling with anxiety. But, I’m here to tell you that anxiety doesn’t win. YOU win! Did you get up this morning? That’s a victory! Did you press on and do your best? That’s a victory! Did you not turn to your escape? That’s a victory! There are people in your life who care for you and will walk beside you during this. That’s a victory! There is a God Who loves you and is watching out for you. He has amazing plans for you and He is with you every step of the way. That’s a HUGE victory!

To the person battling anxiety, you’re going to make it through this and you are going to beat anxiety. I believe in you and I know you can do this because I’m battling anxiety too. But, WE are going to win, everything is going to work out, you’ll see. So, for now, keep on fighting!

Sincerely,

A person who is battling anxiety along with you.