Wonderful–the first prompt for this Write 28 Days Challenge hosted by Anita Ojeda. So odd. I find myself saying this word many times throughout the day:

The morning sky is wonderful.

Hay for the horses is wonderful

Playing frisbee with HoneyPie, our corgi, is yet another wonderful.

The weather; folks I run into; Instagram posts; our daily bread—all wonderful.

Yet I know everything is not wonderful. A glance at any newspaper headline or email reveals how wonderful many things are not. Just the same, we Americans live in a wonderful country. There is no other I would care to take up permanent residence in. How about you? Opportunity is open to every citizen. Every day is a new day to begin again and/or continue on with a dream held dear. These opportunities are available to anyone with the willpower and determination to drive them forward.

Ben Carson, immediately comes to mind. His books are full of obstacles he had to overcome, and full of encouragement to the reader. Have you read any of his inspiring book? Gifted Hands, and America the Beautiful, are well-written, personal stories of how he overcame hardship and turned his life wonderful. Talk about willpower, self-discipline, and determination. Where else but America do such wonderful stories come?

Our history is replete with stories of men and women achieving great things. How about Amelia Earhart, Doug Wilder, or Ben Roethlisberger? Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Doug Wilder, the first African American ever elected to serve as a governor (which was my state—Virginia!), and Ben Roethlisberger, the “Big Ben” football quarterback that played eighteen seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Amazing Americans! They are an inspiration to every American. They have exampled a wonderful life for many.

Where else but America are there more opportunities to rise as far as one might dream, but here? Our wonderful country. Why do you think so many people still come to our country?