In the USA we celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July. That’s the day when the framers of our Constitution published the Declaration of Independence, the document that made public to citizens of the original 13 American colonies and the world at large that we were and why we were releasing ourselves from the tyranny of British rule and declaring ourselves an independent, self-governing nation. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, is considered by many to be both one of the most important and beautiful documents ever written in the English language. In his essay "Justifying America: The Declaration of Independence as a Rhetorical Document” Stephen E. Lucas, professor of communication arts, says that the second sentence in the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” is "one of the best-known sentences in the English language", containing "the most potent and consequential words in American history." So, why the history lesson…particularly if you’re not American? And how does this relate to coaching? We thought you’d never ask… Coaching explores the concept of freedom, independence from tyranny, whether that tyranny is of our own making or imposed upon us by another individual, organization or nation. Coaching explores human rights – the obligations we have to ourselves, others, and the planet. Coaching celebrates change and choice, asks thought-provoking questions and sometimes requests that we take what may feel like revolutionary action(s). At its very heart coaching too examines “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So, to all citizens of the world, let’s celebrate freedom. Or, maybe we should say let’s celebrate Freedom!