Happy 4th of July, here in the U.S. I have the day off from work and am celebrating with an extra Zumba class at 9 a.m. After that, I’m walking a dog from our local animal shelter in the city parade. Tonight my porch provides a wonderful spot for friends to join me to watch our town’s truly wonderful fireworks display and we don’t need to fight the crowds at the beach.
In honor of the day, I’m thinking of all of the things I’m free of today because of my weight loss and fitter lifestyle. Today I’m celebrating my independence in a myriad of ways.
I’m free of chronic pain in my knee. Free of shortness of breath from merely walking. Free of always feeling bad about myself because of my super obesity. I’m free of the constant, nagging stress of worrying about whether I’d fit in a seat, break a chair, be able to buckle a seat belt, have enough room to maneuver in a bathroom stall.
I don’t project about other people’s reactions to me because of my size, or project my own concerns. I used to spend a lot of time assessing situations and spaces and relating them to my body shape and heft.
I’m free of medical conditions including high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and high cholesterol which means I’m no longer taking medications to help those conditions.
There are so fewer regrets in my life these days. Mostly I rued the things that I wasn’t doing and the experiences that I wouldn’t try because of my weight. Now I have the freedom to explore, to try, to do virtually everything I can think of that appeals to my sense of adventure and fun.
When I was at my top weight, I felt like I was living my life in lock down. It’s so much better to have thrown off the chains and given myself permission to move however and wherever I want to go — and to enjoy moving, dancing, and going with the energy flow.
Mind, body, and spirit are unfettered. I’m incredibly grateful and so happy for my personal independence.
Weighty Matters 
Happy Independence Day, in more ways than one!
Do you get tired of hearing people say “you inspire me”? I hope not. Because it’s the comment that comes to mind. Happy 4th!