Boost Your Mood And Spread The Love This Fourth Of July

Like most holidays related to patriotism, I love the Fourth of July. I won’t be doing much this year – just cooking out and visiting family and friends – but between wolfing down burgers and setting off fireworks, why not add the following to your own list of this year’s Fourth of July celebrations?

• Volunteer with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a kind word to brighten someone’s day. Volunteer with the VA and that someone could be a soldier who fought to help make this American birthday possible.
• Support our troops. Thanks to USA.gov, you can easily find ways to quickly send letters, notes, and virtual thank yous as well as care packages, calling cards, and other donations to our soldiers. Imagine how good it may make a soldier feel to know we Americans are thankful enough to take the time to let them know how important they are.
• Learn about grief and support resources for military widows, family members, and loved ones. You never know when it will come in handy to have this kind of information to pass along.
• Boost your mood with music. Patriotic music, that is. “You’re A Grand Old Flag” really does make me want to dig out my old majorette baton, set the ends on fire, and march and twirl around my front yard. I suppose sparklers will have to do.
• Say a prayer. I always feel at least somewhat better after I talk things over with God. Today, I expect I’ll thank him for my life, my country, and the people who are brave enough to defend them both. (Undoubtedly I’ll also throw something in there about the future of America, too.)