We've been taking this for granted

Each year at Thanksgiving, we're reminded to be thankful for our incredible blessings in our lives. This year, we realized we've been taking this huge blessing for granted: our freedom.

We've been blessed to be living in the United States for decades. This country was founded on the freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and more. In fact, we have freedoms here that people in other countries don't enjoy. We're free to wear whatever we want (not the case in Saudi Arabia), we're free to access information (not the case in China), we're free to own property (not the case in Nigeria), and we're even free to chew gum (not the case in Singapore)! Plus, we have laws protecting us from discrimination, thus protecting our freedoms regardless of race, sex or religion.

This Thanksgiving, my wife Nicole and I are especially thankful for our parents whose courage brought us to the United States in the first place. Nicole is a child of immigrants from Iran and I myself fled Iran with my family at the age of nine. After an 8-month voyage through multiple countries, we finally made it to the land of the free. Our parents, and so many others like them, took an enormous risk to leave their homelands for the United States with its promise of liberty and opportunity. We are thankful for them today. We're also realizing that it's up to each of us to peacefully fight for the freedom we have enjoyed on a daily basis. 

What's blocking the way of our freedoms today? More than anything else, it's fear. And, that's a topic I have expertise in, having taught and supported countless people to eliminate their fears and move forward with power instead. Fear, worry and anxiety constrict us; they lead us to make decisions that limit our lives and what we can accomplish; they make us judge, hate and discriminate against others. Fear leads us to willingly give away our freedom for the promise of "protection".

Let's not allow fear to take away our freedom. Instead, let's question our fears and get educated about what we fear. Let's not allow it to control us, or make us want to control and coerce others. Let's learn to come from courage and strength. And, it's important that we stand together to maintain freedom for everyone. That means that even if we don't agree with other people's beliefs, where feasible we give them the freedom to express themselves and to make choices for their lives. And is there any freedom more important than what we choose for our health and what we choose to put in our body?

Thank God for the gift of free will. It is at the core of what makes us divine. Freedom is precious. Fight for it and don't take it for granted.

We wish you a joyous and meaningful Thanksgiving!

All my best,

Arjang Abraham Zendehdel
Founder and Head Trainer of Dreamality Education & Coaching
Radio Talk Show Host at KMET ABC Radio 1490 AM / 98.1 FM