Some people, I’m convinced, have a gene for exploration and discovery. What else could explain why one person spends his life striving to stand on the peak of Mt. Everest while another is happy to sit in a hammock or lounge chair in their backyard?
When I was a young girl, my family couldn’t afford to travel but that didn’t stop me from becoming a world traveler in any possible way I could. I travelled through the eyes of beautiful glossy brochures to many countries. I wrote to every consulate of practically every country I could think of for information. I’d open our mailbox and that’s when the adventure would begin. Through the most amazing photos in those glossy publications I walked the Great Wall of China, trekked the Himalayas and tracked lions, wildebeest and elephants on the Serengeti.
Since then I’ve been blessed to travel the world and visit the Serengeti as well as many, but not yet all, of the other places that were once simple childhood fantasies. My real traveling didn’t start until I started working in the hospital as an RN. A colleague and I often chose our nursing continuing education based on location rather than the educational offerings. Critical care nursing principles suddenly became much more compelling in places like Hawaii, Puerto Rico and London than they ever would have been in Houston. We’d scrimp and save our pennies to make those trips. Later my legal nurse consulting education business took me to 49 states, enjoying the endless bounty and diversity the United States offers along the way. Tom went to most of those states with me, which made the experience all the better. Today our personal adventures have taken us to both polar regions as well as places like Cambodia, Morocco, Patagonia, Bhutan and Tanzania.
Throughout my travels, I’ve visited countries where people enjoy freedom and, sadly, countries where freedom is denied. I’ve visited Communist countries where the “state” discourages regular people from talking to foreigners, countries where children are conscripted against their will into the military and countries where armed rebels roam free. I’ve been to so-called democracies where the governing party enforces its rule through killings, violence and other strong-arm tactics. Some of my favorite trips have been to countries where even the poorest farmers were some of the happiest people I’ve met, simply happy for their mud hut, cattle and the open spaces around them and a life without boundaries (or too many belongings).
Whenever I travel, no matter where I go, what I see or how much fun I have, I am extremely grateful and proud to be a citizen of my beloved United States of America. I’m proud to have the freedom that we so often take for granted and I’m especially glad to hear the U.S. Customs official tell me “welcome home” because I know I am back in the land of the free, and not just the land of big salads and iced tea.
Let’s face it though, freedom for most of us goes way beyond our ability to live where we choose, work a job we select, be able to vote and trust the government not to unjustly imprison or prosecute us. With that in mind, I invite you to join me in celebrating the freedom we all enjoy as Americans and especially as Certified Legal Nurse Consultants.
I’ll get the list started and invite all of you to go ahead and add to it.
Freedom to:
- Say “no” – I was fired once for justifiably saying no. That was one of the best days of my life because it was on that day that I vowed no boss would ever get that chance again. Now I’m the boss and I’m the only one that can fire me.
- Change directions – I’m a Pisces so I thrive on change. I like to navigate all types of waters which I’ve been challenged to do owning my own business. When I do, it’s often my choice and my responsibility – that makes the change so much sweeter.
- Express opinions without fear of recrimination – I was always the nurse at the hospital getting in trouble for saying what every other nurse was thinking (and wouldn’t say at a staff meeting even though they all promised to stand up too). One of my favorite staffers at Vickie Milazzo Institute is just like I was. I call her the “other voice” and value her courage to tell me what I might not want to hear (and sometimes I don’t want to hear it – but I still listen).
Now, it’s your turn to share your stories regarding the CLNC® freedoms below:
- Live a life of unlimited possibilities –
- Be creative –
- Enjoy confidence and self-respect –
- Define your own happiness –
- Explore passions –
- Spend time with family, or not –
- Dare to believe and achieve –
Success Is Inside!
| P.S. | Have a wonderful Fourth of July celebration. |
| P.P.S. | Comment and share your stories regarding the CLNC® freedoms discussed or add your own new freedoms as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant. |
Tags: Fourth of July, freedom, Legal Nurse Consultant, legal nurse consulting education, nurse, nursing continuing education, Travel, Vickie Milazzo
Order My New York Times Bestseller!
CLNC 6-Day Certification Seminar, Chicago 2012 Photo Gallery
|
2011 NACLNC Conference Photo Gallery
 |
| Check Out More Photos 2011 NACLNC® Conference: March 13-20, 2011 |
NACLNC Conference Videos
   |
Vickie’s Books
7 comments
Comments feed for this article
Trackback link
http://www.legalnurse.com/vickiesblog/2010/07/what-does-freedom-mean-to-you-as-a-certified-legal-nurse-consultant/trackback/
July 13, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Kathy Williams, RN, CLNC
I know I’m late on my comment but, I just read this wonderful, brain-thinking blog.
I was at the grocery store a few hours ago with my friend. We were about to pass this person in fatigues. She stopped and said, “Sir, I want to thank you for serving to keep us safe & for our freedom!” He was so very appreciative that she said that.
I on the other hand, was “thinking it” when I saw him but, didn’t voice it!
I was graced with another opportunity when he came behind us at the register. I apologized for the shell I was in and working on being more open & aggressive.
Of course, I thanked him for his service.
I’m telling you that man had the biggest smile, said that means a lot to him & again he really appreciate us telling him that because they hear a lot of criticism!
The vow I made to myself when I’m near military personnel is “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in my power to do it!”
Thank You, Vickie that was valuable!
July 6, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Harriet Bradley
Post Happy 4th of July to all Certified Legal Nurse Consultants. This holiday was created by people like us who wanted independence, freedoms, no limits or boundaries and knew the importance of time with their family, to teach their children their own moral values.
I learned after I was an adult, that freedom was not free. I had the opportunity to work in a Pain Clinic on a military base where soldiers brought back from Iraq and else places, were missing arms, legs sometimes both, or portion or parts of them. These young men and women along with their families work hard along with the staff. The love for country was never a question. Would they do it again? Never a question. I was never so proud to be an American or understood what it to be a free nation under God than the time I gave my time to these soldiers who gave selflessly to us so that we can enjoy the fireworks, cookouts, a legal system that works and FREEDOM. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
July 2, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Claire
Hi Vickie,
The freedoms I am grateful for are:
Freedom to say “I’m praying for you” to my business associates and know that they would return the favor (no matter their religion).
Freedom to walk to the corner store and find any of the foods I can dream of (and afford them).
Freedom to drink as much water as I want or need and even waste water taking two showers a day.
I’m very grateful I have the freedom to call and speak with my family or friends and no one has tapped the line.
I’m grateful I live in a country where I can own my own business being a woman.
Freedom to me is the liberating of my mind. The freedom I love is to read a book, any book I choose. Go to school and any school I can afford.
I’m very grateful to have these freedoms and grateful for my father who paid a price that I might have these freedoms and the ability to say so.
Perfect timing and a perfect subject for the Fourth of July.
Thanks for the opportunity to say so.
July 2, 2010 at 8:53 am
Vickie L. Milazzo, RN, MSN, JD
Tommie, thank you for your lovely comment. Happy 4th to all!
July 2, 2010 at 8:20 am
Tommie Jean Ashby, RN, MSN, CCRN, CLNC
Thank you again Vickie for your words of wisdom and Happy July 4th (Independence Day!) to you and Tom!! I too have gotten in ‘trouble’ for expressing my opinion, as a nurse, but still love this land we live in!!
I too want to express a heartfelt thanks to our soldiers who assure our freedom!! Several members of my family have served in the military, including my father. I have such admiration for them!
Thank you Vickie for giving me the courage, know-how, and freedom to make an exciting ‘career change’ (within my career) – one where I can actually use my knowledge, make rational decisions, voice my opinion and achieve more freedom than ever before!
God Bless America and God Bless you, Tom, and all your staff at the Milazzo Institute!!
July 1, 2010 at 11:00 am
Vicki Hicks
Vickie – What can I say! You have once again hit the nail on the head! But, I want to join you in wishing all a very pleasant holiday season. It comes with a very high price right now– the lives of our soldiers overseas. We must remember them as well. Many of them are ages of our sons and daughters, and are scared and lonely. My heart goes out to them.
Though just a fledgling, legal nurse consulting has been a great gift to me. I now work more enthusiastically and somewhat harder than I ever did as an RN, but there is always a smile on my face! I know the decisions I make are ones I want to make, and I have no one to blame but me for their success or failure. We have had two cases so far, more are promised, and with that promise, we have the ability to dream and plan our future. It’s scary-fun, as my son puts it. I hope you never grow tired of hearing people say thank you, Vickie, cause that’s what I have to say now! “Thank you, Vickie, for opening up this wonderful career to me! I’m striving for that success inside, every single day!”
July 1, 2010 at 8:39 am
Lynn Babbitt
Thanks, Vickie and happy 4th of July to you and Tom. There is not much I can add that you have not already said.
I am thankful every day for the freedoms and opportunities afforded me.
Come to think of it, that is EXACTLY what becoming a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant has done for me.
We have done some traveling outside the United States and loved the experience and yes, glad to be home every time.
Many years were spent “traveling ” via The National Geographic magazine.
A short example of nursing in other countries that we explored is that the autonomy for nurses is significantly less than here in The United States of America .