American Pride Returns To The Parade

As I write this it is Independence Day here in the United States. We often celebrate with a parade, fireworks and lunch hot off the grill. Everywhere around are decorations of red, white and blue. Special outfits are designed exclusively for this one day of the year.

National pride flows strongly on this day. However, as an empath this can be overwhelming. For myself, I can almost feel my heart explode as the American Flag leads the parade. The sense of pride and loyalty that fills the other parade-goers flows into and through my own heart.

This year there were heat index warnings here in Wisconsin where I live. Temperatures close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit are bad enough, but when the humidity level climbs near to 100% it can be dangerous for some folks. Personally I have suffered from heat exhaustion three times in my life already so I am especially prone to heat related illnesses. Yet, I wouldn’t miss the parade for the world.

However, this year I felt a greater sense of pride than in previous years. As the flag passed by, so many people began to clap. On the faces of some of the younger ones there was an expression of awe. Today where I sat watching the floats go past there was almost a new-found sense of companionship. I can only hope the entire group of parade viewers shared this same emotion.

Many times the floats are full of frills and fluffs. Sometimes you can’t tell what holiday is being celebrated. This year, however, it seemed that there was a renewed feeling of love for being American and all that it stands for. Clapping began for the float filled with seated Veterans as it arrived. I’ve never seen that happen before.

Politics has divided our country so badly over the last ten years and longer. But,  maybe, just maybe, we are finding new reasons to reconnect with our neighbors and friends. Perhaps as a nation we are realizing that we the people are the power behind the ones who run the government. If we all stand together as one, we are a force to be reckoned with.

Usually it’s painful to be an empath.  But, today, I was grateful for the gift of empathy. As that parade flowed in front of me, despite the melting weather conditions, people were banding together. They were opening their hearts to strangers sitting beside them. And there was love and pride in their hearts. Children were smiling and playing. Usually I can feel those who are judging others in their minds. This year I couldn’t even feel that.

God bless America. I pray this renewed feeling of loyalty and pride as brothers and sisters in the nation grow throughout our beloved America. I hope we can start seeing our similarities to each other instead of our differences. May we begin to connect our hands and our hearts across America and spread love and peace.