What’s Your Declaration of Independence?

By Reena

I love fireworks with a giddy passion. Under the sparkling sky of Aptos beach each year, on the 4th of July, I get mesmerized. These fireworks represent our freedom from England and our fearless strength to fight for it. We express our annual gratitude to another generation for getting us our freedom.

So, today is a good day to reflect on whether you are truly free of captivity. 

Or do you need to declare independence from a shackle that you are wearing?

Something that is holding you a prisoner. Something that is stealing your joy and making you a lesser version of who you are and who you can be.

We may have won our freedom from England but some of us have lost to opioid addiction, obesity, alcoholism, drugs, depression, rage, suicide, chronic illness and more. 

Over 50% of Americans suffer from chronic illness 

41% of middle-aged Americans are hostage to Obesity.

116 people die daily from opioid-related drug overdose daily (2016)

15 million suffer from alcoholism.

16 million have depression

With the explosion of everything from chronic illness to suicide and gun violence, we as a nation have to take stock of who we have lost our independence to and how can we fight to win it back.

Today is a great day to reflect and make a list of what shackles you and then commit to being free of it this year. 

Take just 5 minutes and list everything that is holding you back. Then pick one of those and make a commitment to fighting it and winning the battle.

I am joining you in this declaration of independence. I’ve made my list and I’ve found my worst offender.

So, today, I declare my independence from SUGAR. 

I lose daily to my sugar cravings and addiction. I had gone 15 months with no sugar when I was recovering so I know I can do it. But in the last few months, I have gone from 20 grams a day to 100 grams a day on a good day. With my health history, eating sugar is akin to committing a crime against my body daily. Yet, I feel overpowered and often succumb as I make excuses such as, “its just one bite.” Or “I was so good yesterday, today I can binge.” At one point I was in control but today sugar is back in charge.

So today I commit to no longer letting sugar addiction hold me hostage. 

I will not let it rule my every waking moment.

Yes, from the moment I wake till I sleep I think of my next sugar treat.

I won’t be held captive to my cravings.

I am back to designing my meals around dessert options. 

I will be stronger and fight harder.

I have started giving in to my mind’s silly justifications for eating sugary meals. 

I commit to going sugar-free for 1 month and then another month and another …until its 4th of July 2019 and I can declare that I am free of my sugar addiction.

As you look in the mirror getting ready for a BBQ binge with family or friends, ask yourself what must you be free of? 

What is holding you hostage and exacting a heavy price?

Is it weight? Is it depression? Is it alcohol? Is it painkillers? Is it caffeine? Is it rage? 

4th of July is a great day to declare your personal freedom from just 1 thing that is holding you captive.

Then spend as many days, weeks or months it takes to break free of the chains.

Stay strong. Stay determined. Get rid of it.

To help you along in your journey we created this HEALTH CALENDAR to give you 1 beautiful thing to do daily to live a life of joy. Check it out, print it, share it, live it!

Have a fabulous 4th of July!