This Independence Day, I’m taking a moment to reflect on what freedom really means… what it asks of us, and what it offers.
In a time when so many feel less free, when hate is louder, when immigrants and asylum seekers face hostility, antisemitism is once again rising, and hard-won rights are being quietly (and not so quietly) rolled back, it’s clear that freedom isn’t a given. It’s something we have to nurture, protect, and sometimes fight for.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, easy to disconnect, to tell ourselves we’re just one person, and we are better off ignoring. But what I’ve learned, through personal struggle, loss, and resilience, is that connection is the way forward.
We live in the Age of Influence, where each of us has the power to reach, to advocate, to build. And in a world that often rewards noise and outrage, there’s something deeply impactful about showing up with consistency, empathy, and heart.
That’s the essence of Return on Relationship, investing in people, not just platforms. Building trust, not just reach. In the end, it’s not the wins or losses I hold onto… it’s the relationships. They’ve always been the real foundation, the reason I keep showing up.
At 67, I’ve been through seasons of personal and professional change. I’ve had to let go of things I never imagined I would. I’ve loved deeply, from near and far. And I’ve made a choice, again and again, to stay present, even when it’s painful. Even when I’m not sure it’s making a difference. But I keep going for what I believe in, and for the kind of world I still hope we can create together.
#ThisDadWontQuit isn’t just about fatherhood…it’s a reminder that showing up matters. That doing what you can, with what you have, for as long as you can, even when it’s hard, is how we move forward. In the things that matter most, for many of us, there’s #NoLetUp in life.
So this July 4th, I’m not just thinking about independence in the historical sense, I’m thinking about what it means on a personal level. The freedom to act with integrity, to care, to connect, to stay in the fight, even quietly, when the world feels uncertain.
And I’m reminding myself, and maybe you too, that the small, steady things matter. That ‘showing up’ is an act of hope.