“All of man’s miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone.”
~ Blaise Pascal ~ 1623-1662 17th c. scientist, mathematician, philosopher.
Pascal instructions continued:
“You need not leave your room.
Remain sitting at your table and listen.
You need not even listen, simply wait.
You need not even wait, just learn to come quiet, and still and solitary.
The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked.
It has no choice;
it will roll in ecstasy at your feet.”
After the gatherings, picnics and fireworks, after (hopefully) voicing words of gratitude to all the women and men who had that ecstatic vision back in 1607 for ‘something better,’ …after remembering to also offer thanks to all the past (and future) peoples from the multitude of continents, countries, and nations who continue to believe and vest in that vision (some 416 years down the road, and counting) ….. I hope you purposefully take some individual time to pause, breathe, find quiet and envision your own intimate independence day. (You are as valuable as any fore bearer.)
May what you discover roll in ecstasy at your feet.