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Happy (belated) 4th!

Happy Independence Day!!

Hopefully everyone out there is enjoying a wonderful day with family, friends, barbeques, and fireworks! While this holiday is ostensibly about America’s freedom, I’d like to take a moment today to appreciate freedom on a more personal level.

When I moved west last fall, I made a decision to cut ties with a number of people in my life. These were people that were not contributing in my life in a positive way. This is in no way work-related, just a general life observation. Since I was moving 3000 miles away to begin grad school, it’s axiomatic that communication would be reduced. Indeed, it was an opportunity to allow some friendships to slide into obscurity. And I did just that.

It was like a weight had been lifted from me. The complainers, the drama queens, the social ladder climbers were all left behind.

Here in Seattle, I have been meticulous about the people I allow into my life. It’s quality not quantity, right? I feel incredibly blessed to have a handful of wonderful friends (and I count my regulars -all of whom I consider friends more than clients- in this group). Unfortunately, there was one person that slipped through the cracks. It happens. In the last week I had to cut ties. The last thing I want to do is hurt someone’s feelings or make them feel badly. In this vein, I do wish that some conversations had gone differently. But, the bottom line is that this person is out of my life. And I am happier for it. I do not wish ill to anyone so while we are no longer speaking, I truly hope that this person finds peace and happiness.

So while I am eating veggie dogs and watching fireworks today, I am also going to remember and appreciate independence in all its manifestations.