Reflecting: 4th of July

Independence Day

The 4th of July hits a little differently now. The backyard isn’t quite as noisy as it once was, with no kids running around with sparklers or chasing each other through sprinklers. These days, it’s quieter—but in that quiet, we’ve found something really meaningful. As two women in our 50s, empty nesting and embracing the rhythm of midlife, this holiday has become more than just fireworks and flags. It’s a chance to reflect on freedom in a new, more personal way—the freedom to slow down, to reinvent, to choose how we spend this season of life.

This year, we’re planning a simple celebration: maybe a few friends, something fresh on the grill, twinkling lights strung across the porch. We’ll pull out a red-white-and-blue centerpiece from the stash we’ve kept for years, sip something cold, and share stories from summers past. But we’re also talking about what freedom means now—freedom to travel, to create, to rediscover faith and purpose with fewer distractions. Independence Day feels like the perfect time to pause, appreciate how far we’ve come, and dream a little about what’s next.