Miles and miles of open land surround my town. It is the kind of landscape characteristic of the Southwest. Signs picturing a single horse and some arbitrarily determined number of miles are placed along the nearby highway. The signs aren’t there because of frequent threats of wild horses crossing the road. Instead, I believe, they act as reassurance for drivers; so, when that rare, miracle-like moment comes and an actual wild horse, or five, peppers the hills that roll along the Arizona roadside, a person can savor this dreamlike reality and not dismiss it as a desert mirage.
I have been fortunate to see the wild horses a few times in my 19 desert years. Each time, I marvel at the freedom they must feel as they stand steady, looking out at the miles of land stretched before them, calling them, waiting for their approach.
The flowing line of hills upon which the wild horses stand are in complete contrast to the straight lines below that keep the swift traffic moving forward safely, on time, and in place. While I appreciate “the lines,” and live successfully within them, I also recognize a true need for “the unmarked land” where these graceful giants roam and the associated possibilities live.
Structure and freedom. Contemplating both concepts together seems complicated; yet, leading life well demands both. Leaders appreciate the results accomplished through structure and the inspiration born in freedom. True leaders navigate both.
On this special day of Independence, celebrate the freedom you have and erase the limitations that are self-imposed. Allow inspiration to touch you. This is living to meet your intended purpose.