The 4th of July!
Happy 4th of July!
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal . . . “
Lovely thoughts, eh? I guess it’s all in your definition of what a man is. Back when those words were written, a black man was not a man. An “Indian” was not a man. A woman was not a man. A man, back then, was white and a property owner.
But lovely thoughts at least.
What about now? If Bill Gates has a child (I actually don’t know if he does or not), is his child the equal of a child born into severe poverty in Mississippi? Is his child the equal of a black child born in the slums of Chicago? Is his child the equal of a Native American child born on the Devils Lake Indian Reservation?
Just random thoughts . . . I certainly have no political agenda here, but a writer’s brain is always tossing these things around. We are the observers and the chroniclers of our generation, so we need to pay attention, to question, and to surmise.
That’s what we do as writers!
Of course, if you write travel articles, I guess none of that matters, so ignore what I just wrote.
TAKING A MID-MORNING BREAK
It’s been my custom for quite some time now to take a mid-morning break from writing . . . nothing major, just ten minutes to go out and feed the quail and chickens in our backyard. It may not seem like much, but ten minutes is important, and I always return refreshed.
My reward for a day’s work is waiting for me out at the farm each afternoon. Sometime between one and two each day I go out to feed the hundred or so chickens we have there, and after I do that I always lay down under some trees in the pasture and watch the clouds float by. I spend about a half hour doing that. It’s my break period for the day, a chance to clear my mind, think of nothing in particular, and re-charge my inner batteries. I think this is vitally important for people to do, but surprisingly few do it. It is so easy to say we are too busy, but really that just means we don’t choose to do something beneficial for ourselves.
Well I do and I’m better for it.
Have a great week!
bill
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Happy 4th of July, Bill! And truly love how your down time sounds as it is the perfect way to indeed recharge 🙂
Thank you Janine and Happy 4th to you as well.
Wow! I hadn’t taken on board how much land you have. I imagined, when you called it an “urban farm” that it was sort-of a small area tucked between houses and utilised to the full. I like the image of you lying their re-charging your batteries. I don’t do enough of that, although did spend about four hours sitting outside reading last Sunday because our neighbourhood was surprisingly peaceful for once. It was as if some aliens had come and whisked them all away. Today, it’s very noisy and I can’t possibly do any writing, let alone much thinking, because everybody has decided to refurbish/renovate their houses at once, rather than bother selling in a shaky economy and not knowing what’s going to happen because of Brexit. …No, like you, I’m not into discussing politics in any depth, although I do worry terribly about the world’s inequalities. Whilst all these house refurbishments have been going on, there’s been a man sitting crosslegged on the pavement most days for the last fortnight. He looks very down on his luck and I’m wondering if he has a home to go to, but if anyone comes near him, he scuttles off like a wounded animal. How can we save the world, dear Bill? With difficulty, but if we look after the environment, it’s a start.
Wishing you a joyous 4th July, my dear friend 🙂
Oh Sarah, I don’t have a clue how to save the world. I just try to make my little corner a bit better for all.
We have a home in town, but most of our farming happens at our son’s farm, ten acres outside of town. No, I am a true urban farmer with a little less than 1/4 acre. Just me, my wife, and the chickens.
Wishing you a brilliant week, dear friend! Good luck with that writing!
Once again you nailed it my friend. Have a great 4th and beyond.
Thank you Larry! You do the same!
On this 4th I am thinking more about empathy and less about patriotism–so whatever happy 4th is for you, I hope you have a great one
That makes perfect sense to me, Audrey! Wishing you a Happy Empathy Day!
I wish that we could call everyone “equal”, however. social dichotomy is an unfortunate reality. It appears to be more of an economic dichotomy than a racial or gender !
On a lighter note, I have always found chickens to be both a joy and an inspiration!
Thank you Donna, and I share your opinion on chickens….a joy for me for sure.
Hi Bill – Happy Fourth of July. It has been so long since I did any work, that I had forgotten all about breaks. ha Good that you have scheduled re-charge time for yourself as you pursue your busy schedule.
Mike, I always feel a little guilty calling writing work. Maybe a labor of love is a good compromise. Happy 4th to you my friend.
Big Bro, lovely thoughts and good food for thought. 🙂 It’s always good to ask these questions. And it’s always good to contemplate our role in what equality means – at least in my mind, I think so. 🙂
As for the chickens, you really do have so many! lol. But I already knew that. My breaks are half hour of meditation in the afternoons, and sometimes I just take a nap after that. I do love a good nap! Hehe. With the exception of my school years (when I associated them with being a little kid and wanted nothing to do with them), I have LOVED naps. LOL. Bliss. Hehe.
Happy 4th to ya! Sending you big hugs! 🙂
Lil Sis, if I take a midday nap I am totally worthless the rest of the day…truth. I just can’t allow myself to go down that road…but good on you for being able to do it.
Long day coming to a close…hugs at ya, and Happy 4th!
Happy 4th of July Bill!
Well, all humans are equal, this is my belief. But still there are many around the globe who are spreading hatred and divisions on the basis of superiority.
I loved your chickens and quails farm in backyard, my father used to have one in his older age, to get some fresh eggs.
Many Blessings to you and your family my friend!
Nikki,very nice to hear from you. Where have you been lately? Blessings to you always, my friend, and thank you!
Thanks for replying back Bill, my friend. It’s summer as know, so many things are going on.Hopefully, would find much time for hubpages to complete me story and to write more in summer vacations.
Bleesings to you and your wife always!
Enjoy your summer, Nikki!
Time to one’s self. So crucial! Again, you ask some tough questions at the beginning. Political or not, you looked, observed and asked. You then did your part as a writer. That’s human decency.
Those Declarations are so powerful … so meaningful! As you so rightly pointed out, one man’s understanding may be different from another. History is full of this. But you and I have things to do. Happy July 4th, Bro. Love to the family.
Thank you my friend. Love to you always. Decency can help mend fences, my friend; without it those fences grow in height.
Interesting thoughts Bill, followed by wise words on the power of relaxation!
Aww, thank you Andrea! Wishing you a splendid weekend!
A hundred plus chickens? Pasture? Bill, did you and Bev move?
No, Sha, Bev’s son owns ten acres, so we keep our chickens out there….here we still have eight chickens to keep us company.