A reflection for Independence Day 2021
“Simple Gifts” is one of my favorite American hymns, and it's the song I walked down the aisle to at my wedding. If you're not familiar with it, it's a 19th Century Shaker hymn which was made popular again by Aaron Copland in his ballet Appalachian Spring.
The organist at our church played a beautiful rendition this morning for Independence Day, but my favorite has always been this version by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and singer Alison Kraus.
The lyrics and melody are especially poignant after the 18 months we've just lived through. For me, they evoke simplicity, core values, and focusing on what really matters in my life and work. I'm grateful for the freedom to do that and to live in a country where that's possible.
Happy Independence Day to you and your families, however you are celebrating this year.
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gained
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed
To turn, turn will be our delight
‘Till by turning, turning we come round right.
'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
Maura Charles is the founder of Keep it Human. As a Product Leadership Coach and Consultant, she is on a mission to help teams and organizations embrace human skills like communication and emotional intelligence in their ways of working.
She brings 25 years of experience as an editor, product manager, and digital business leader to bear on the challenges of building human-centered high-performing tech teams.
If you'd like to develop more human business and tech teams that hum together to drive results, check out Keep it Human and follow Maura Charles on LinkedIn.