| Dear John, As we are heading into the weekend and approaching one of the nation’s most profound holidays, my mind is deep in thought and reflection. We are living in a time of hardship. Words like: inflation, recession, violence, pandemic… are swirling through the media on a daily basis. These thoughts can be consuming, BUT what if there was a mindset shift? When I think of changing my mindset, gratitude often comes to the forefront of my mind. Gratitude lists can often change our perspective. We have a roof over our heads. We have food to provide energy. We have means of transportation. We have the opportunity to provide for our family. We have so many things that we can be grateful for. So in reflection of Independence Day, I was reminded of something Dad said. “I love America because it truly is the “land of the free and the home of the brave,” the land where any man or woman has an opportunity to do great things, and most of all to enjoy the privilege of freedom” —Zig Ziglar | 