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America, Land of the Free
Let’s talk about freedom of choice … and the responsibility that comes with it.
What is freedom?
Wikipedia defines it as having the ability to act or change without constraint. I feel fortunate to live in the United States where, probably more than any other place, we have the freedom to choose what we want to think, believe, and do.
So where do our beliefs come from?
We start out with pretty much a blank slate, so our beliefs are going to be heavily influenced by our earlier formative years. As we move past childhood, education and our unique life experiences make their impact.
What’s left comes from what we read, see, or hear – things such as social media, news reports, blogs, videos, and, of course, those daily conversations with the people around us such as family, friends, co-workers, neighbors — even acquaintances and strangers.
We use these beliefs we have formed as a foundation or “life guide” to define who we are and what it is we are all about. Whatever it is we choose to believe, it is likely that our daily routines consist primarily of constant reminders that reinforce these beliefs. As we get older, we often find ourselves gravitating to others that are like us in some or even many ways as it provides a…
