Happy Independence Day!
There’s a story from the end of the Revolutionary War I want to tell as we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and it’s one everyone in the world can learn from.
George Washington, at that moment, after commanding the American forces to victory, was the most powerful man in the new country. Many people talked about making him King of America.
Across the ocean, King George was sitting with an American painter, and asked what he thought Washington would do now that the war was ending. The painter said he believed he would go back to his farm.
The King said, “If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.”
As the war officially ended, Washington came to speak to Congress and said, “Having now finished the work assigned me, I retire from the great theater of Action.” He returned his commission they’d given him in 1775 - after more than 8 years of leading the Americans to victory without pay, and he was home at Mount Vernon for Christmas.
Of course, he was elected as our first President a few years later, and after two terms, showed the same selflessness again when he willingly gave up his power and went back to Mount Vernon again.
That’s true greatness. He had all the power in the world. But power, alone, does not make you great.
Washington’s greatness came from being a true servant - to a cause much bigger than himself. His greatness was his complete lack of selfishness.
The whole story of American Independence is a story of selflessness. It’s a story of people who set their self-interest aside and worked for each other.
We’ve all heard the line about “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.”
Apparently, Ben Franklin might have actually never said that.
But that’s fine, because the same mentality is right there in the last line of the Declaration of Independence, published on this day 250 years ago:
“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
We mutually pledge to each other.
No one was in this alone. No one was in it for themselves. This was a group of people with different backgrounds who were in it for each other.
Today is a reminder: greatness comes from what we do for each other, never what we do for ourselves.
That’s a lesson that applies no matter what country you call home.
It’s a lesson that doesn’t require any law passed by a politician, because, let’s be honest, if you’re waiting for selfless politicians, I really hope you are not holding your breath.
All of us have the power to be there for the people around us. For our families and friends. For our neighbors. For everyone.
All of us can reach for greatness.
It’s as simple as looking beyond yourself, seeing past the mirror, picking your eyes up from your phone, and pledging to be there for each other.
Happy Fourth. May you all find your own version of greatness today by lifting each other up.
Lift up your neighborhood. Lift up America. Lift up the World.
Rihanna was asked what she would do next if her relationship with A$AP Rocky ever ended, and this was her response:
“If things with A$AP Rocky ever end, I’m done with men for good. I’m not giving another man access to me, my body, or my peace. I’ll raise my kids alone and focus on myself because I refuse to start over with someone new just to be disappointed again.”
#TRENDING: Seattle Could Soon be Home to One of the Unique Skyscrapers in the World 🌎
The Proposed ODA Seattle Tower stands at 1,148 feet tall, making it the tallest tower in the entire Pacific Northwest 🌲
The design features a massive open-air sky park carved through the middle of the tower, creating shared gardens and outdoor gathering spaces high above the city with views of Mount Rainier and Puget Sound 🏔️
Do you want to see this built in Seattle⁉️👀 #DUBSEA
Fans have noticed that Nicki Minaj deleted some of her viral posts attacking Jay-Z and Desiree Perez on X.
Rumour has it that a cease and desist was sent to the upcoming born again Christian 'rapper' who has been awfully quiet since Jay-Z's viral Roots Picnic freestyle.
Woah? This is actually INSANE. Spotify stats before Cardi B responded to Latto and after.
I now see why Latto dragged the situation out—from the diss to the messy TMZ question to the Breakfast Club interview. Cardi B was literally the rollout and promo for "Big Mama" 😭
I truly understand how you feel…and that’s exactly why I chose to apologize publicly because the disrespect became public. On that call I didn’t even mean to call you that, I didn’t mean any harm.. There’s a difference in what I said vs what I meant. What I could have said was you was too forgiving and gave too much mercy in that situation.. But it was a heated conversation and I let my mouth get the best of me. When the call came out I was eight months pregnant, had just released my album, and was extremely overwhelmed and emotional. Thats not to excuse what I said but to let you know where I was in my head. I genuinely felt bad about what happened. In 2025 and 2026 I made multiple attempts to connect…I spoke with your manager, your sister, and even texted you directly to take full responsibility. I always had love and respect for you ! I always wanted to make it right but making it right looks different for the both of us… I wanted to connect with you but you wanted to address it on your album