Yes—it’s that time again. It’s time to celebrate our nation!

The 4th of July (as it’s commonly referred to in the U.S.), is our nation’s annually celebrated anniversary (of the publication) of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain, 1776. In true red-blooded American fashion, we continue the centuries-old tradition of taking a bow for our unrivaled sense of bravery. We do this, by lifting our voices and uplifting our fellow man.

Here in the United States, there is no shortage of patriotic pride; because, we live in a country where the effects of war (foreign and domestic), indentured service, segregation, gentrification, as well as gender inequality – are as real as our brave men and women who have battled debased institutions in order to alter our destiny. Our nation’s stories of pain, woe, victory, and defeat are just that … they’re ‘our’ stories. We are not called to spew hatred in recollection or retaliation of them; however, we must not forget these bold ‘chronicles of change’, that serve as reminders. Our country is neither perfect, nor will it ever be; yet and still, we are proud. We’re proud of our journey, albeit painful and at times uncertain. We are proud of our ability to come together and celebrate our differences amid the culmination of events that spark unity.

Here in the U.S., we seek to improve, not to forget. As we repave platforms to make our nation’s infrastructure stronger, we do so through sheer ability, not with an intent to erase historical outlines and pathways. While we lay new foundations, we are learning to be mindful of landmarks that tell a story. In this country, when we unearth new ground as a symbol of mobility and achievement, we are learning that the effort should not be with the intent to stage a cover-up. As members of this beautifully imperfect nation, we share a love for each other that has no equal; a love that grows more resilient as we grow in strength and number. This is not to make the notion of being American sound like ‘a thing’, because it’s clearly so much more than that; it’s a way of life. It’s a way of being stronger, better, healthier, wiser, bolder and more inclusive. I guess if you wanted to apply contempo-lingo, you could say we have a ‘people thing’ going on in the U.S.A. Yes—and we like the look and feel of it! Could there be more legislation to insist on zero tolerance for episodes of rouge injustice? Certainly, and there will be; because, we’re that nation. We’re Americans. That means we’re doers, who are committed to owning our faults and navigating the rest of our journey with a keen sense of vision that insists upon change. And that’s why we take the time to celebrate! Yes. We love hard, we live-out-loud, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

With less than 5 months left in 2018, the TZelement MAG is gearing up for 2019 in a spirit of unity and unmatched sense of positivity. We’re dreaming bigger in the coming months (and years to come), and we trust you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what we have in store for you. We can’t give you the full monty, but we caution you to pleasantly expect the unexpected because we’re making ‘FIT’ and ‘BIZ’ happen! And while we’re tackling our to-do lists here on the home front, we trust you’ll feel motivated where you are. As we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence, be sure to take a moment to tip the finger of acknowledgment inward, to celebrate ‘your own’ success and accomplishments. Remember—The Declaration of Independence was always our vision of who we wanted to be – a presentable footing for being bold and different. If you are a visionary at heart – who gleans inspiration from the TZelement MAG community, it is our hope that you’ll commit to being POSITIVELY Independent & Different … so that you can fully appreciate the miracles that are waiting to happen.