Celebrating Independence Day with a Ripple of Hope

In celebration of 4th of July, I had a chance to reflect on the gratitude I have for being born in the United States of America. My grandfather was an immigrant and my father was a military officer. The freedoms we enjoy today were gifted to us through generations of sacrifice.

Being an American today brings new challenges. There's incredible uncertainty in a post-pandemic world, yet I found identity and inspiration in the great Bobby Kennedy's speech: A Tiny Ripple of Hope.

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself,

but each of us can work to change a small portion of events,

and in the total of all those acts

will be written the history of this generation.

Each time a man stands up for an ideal,

or acts to improve the lot of others,

or strikes out against injustice,

he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope,

and crossing each other from a million

different centers of energy and daring,

those ripples build a current that can sweep down

the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows,

the censure of their colleagues,

the wraths of their society.

moral courage is a rarer commodity

than bravery in battle or great intelligence.

Yet it is the one essential,

vital quality for those who seek

to change a world that yields

most painfully to change.”

I hope these words inspire you as much as they did me. Happy 4th of July everyone.