A Toast to REAL Freedom
Today they’ll set off fireworks to celebrate “freedom.”
They’ll herd us onto fields, charge ten bucks for funnel cake, make us sit in the grass, chit-chatting with strangers and listening to patriotic speeches and songs we don’t believe in or even like.
So here’s my toast.
Not to that freedom.
But to real freedom.
To the freedom of saying eff that noise!—I’m setting off fireworks in my own yard because it’s too hot, I’m too old, and I’m too wise to mess with parking for a ten-minute show.
To the freedom of taking a nap, going to the movies, or taking a drive simply because it’s a holiday and I can do whatever the hell I want.
To the freedom of wearing whatever I want—sweatpants and a sweater in July because the AC is frigid, or that romper that shows my underbutt because I like it.
To the freedom of sitting on my porch, smoking a cigar, listening to Chopin, because I’m a grown-ass woman and no one can stop me.
To the freedom of making a big ass batch of potato salad with raisins and dill pickles just for me because that’s how I like it, and I don’t need anyone else’s approval.
To the freedom of feeling sad because money is tight, and trusting that skipping plans isn’t failure—it’s fiscal responsibility.
To the freedom of sleeping in late and staying up late because my only responsibility for the next few days is to be me, however she shows up.
To the freedom to connect with friends and family who aren’t celebrating—those who don’t have kids and chose different paths—just to remind them that their choices are holy because they were theirs to make.
To the messy, real, personal freedom that can’t be legislated, sold, or contained.
To the freedom that doesn’t look the same for any two people, but belongs to all of us.
So here’s to real freedom.
The freedom to disappoint the system. To be inconvenient. To rest. To rage. To grieve. To love who we love how we want to love them. To take up space. To gather or to hide away when we need to. The freedom to question everything.
A sparkling cider toast to our ungovernable, unrepentant, wildly personal sovereignty.
May you claim it, hold it tight, and dare to live it out loud.
Happy Independence Day!
How are you celebrating your Freedom? Shoot me a message or leave a comment!