Over the weekend, we celebrated America’s 238th birthday. More than two centuries ago, we adopted the Declaration of Independence…a small, yet powerful and defining moment in our nation’s history that allowed us to stand on our on two feet. While Ethan and I celebrated with friends, food and fireworks, I took some time to really think about what it means to be free.

It’s defined as the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. In other words, to be free is to be who you are with no hesitation or reservation. Although we live in the “land of the free and home of the brave,” I wonder how many people truly experience that ultimate level of euphoric freedom.

Over the years, I, along with some of my best friends have each experienced various things within our lives that has tried to keep us in bondage. While some situations have been tougher to deal with than others, each of us have grown stronger because of those situations. As each of us channels that strength into different things, I choose to channel it into writing and photography, hoping that it somehow touches somebody and pushes them towards the freedom they so desperately crave.

Letting go of hurt and pain is never an easy task. Believe me…I KNOW. It took me DECADES to become free of my past. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to learn that experiencing the type of freedom that God intended us to experience is impossible if we hold on to pain and allow ourselves to be controlled by the actions and words of others. I now wake up with such joy in my heart and when I look at myself in the mirror, I see a woman at peace…a woman who isn’t perfect and one who will never allow herself to live her life according to the standards of others. I’ve learned that a day will come where each of us will come to a crossroads where we, like our founding fathers, will have a monumental decision to make: either continue on business as usual under the hand of someone or something else or speak up and say “NO MORE.”

Speaking up can be scary. It can be intimidating, but no one is meant to struggle with bondage. Whether it’s a mental, emotional, physical, spiritual or financial bondage, YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF ANYONE OR ANYTHING. That is what Jesus died for. He died so that we can all be free. Though speaking up can be scary, to remain silent is to reject the freedom Christ has given to you. AND WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU WANT TO DO THAT?!? Hear me when I say, you do not deserve that. You’re not meant to live that way.

While I can’t tell you what decision is best for you and whatever your situation may be dealing with, what I can tell you is there is nothing like true freedom within yourself. When you choose to forgive instead of seeing the world through scorned eyes…when you learn from your past mistakes instead of allowing them to define who you are…the moment where you love yourself regardless of what other people think…when you choose to LIVE YOUR LIFE FOR YOU instead of other people…in those moments you will taste the sweetness of freedom and you’ll never want to go back to the way it was before.

Letting go of the hurt and pain is never an easy task. But it is so necessary…not only for you, but also for the generations that are coming as a result of you later. Whatever you’re dealing with, whatever hurt you may be holding on to, let it go. Let it go right now.

When you let it go, you will feel relieved. When you feel relieved, you will begin to live in peace..and when you begin to live in peace, it is in that moment you truly become free.

No more excuses. No more hesitation. Your independence day has arrived.

Hop to it.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo,