Rusty's Corner: Freedoms We Forget
This past week, during our team meeting, we spent some time talking about the freedoms we take for granted as Americans.
As you might imagine, there were plenty to list. The freedom to vote. The freedom to speak our minds. The freedom to worship. The freedom to choose our career. The freedom to pursue opportunities that simply don't exist in many parts of the world.
I find it so easy when discussing our nation to shift toward thinking about everything that's wrong.
It's easy to focus on what we wish was different. Easier still to take for granted the things we've become so accustomed to that we barely notice them anymore.
That training reminded me that gratitude often begins by noticing what has become ordinary.
Most mornings, I don't wake up thinking about how fortunate I am to live in a country where I can own a business, vote for my particular candidate, attend the church of my choosing, or raise my family according to our values.
Those things have become fairly normal.
But normal doesn't mean common.
Millions of people around the world would gladly trade places for the freedoms many of us experience every single day.
That doesn't mean America is perfect.
It's definitely not.
Every family has problems. Every business has problems. Every country has problems.
We can love something while still wanting it to improve.
In fact, I think that's exactly what good stewardship looks like.
One of the freedoms I'm most thankful for is the ability to build something.
Twenty-three years ago, The Master's Lawn & Pest was just an idea. Today, it provides opportunities for hundreds of families and serves thousands of homeowners and businesses across North Florida.
That's not something I take credit for, but it is something I don't want to take for granted.
As I reflected after that training, I realized freedom isn't just something we celebrate one day a year.
It's something we steward every day.
By serving our neighbors.
By raising our children well.
By treating people with respect, even when we disagree.
By working hard.
By giving back to our communities.
And by remembering that many of the opportunities we enjoy today were paid for by generations before us.
This Fourth of July, I hope we celebrate with family, good food, and maybe a few fireworks.
But I also hope we pause for just a moment to simply be thankful.
Because one of the easiest things to lose is appreciation for the blessings we've grown accustomed to.
So let me leave you with one question:
What freedom have you become so used to that you've forgotten to be thankful for it?
Create a great day,
—Rusty
Rusty is the founder of The Master's Lawn & Pest and writes Rusty's Corner to share real-life lessons from leadership, the wins, the struggles, and the growth in between. If we can help with your landscape or pest control, call or text our office at (352) 378-5296, or fill out our online form.