Happy Indepence Day to all of my American friends and family and a belated Canada Day to all of my Canadian Friends and Family!  This festive time has made me dive deeper into the meaning of independence and I wanted to express my gratitude for the ability to live a free life.  My beautiful observation is we can all live a free and prosperous life.  One not bound by the constraints of society or the even more paralyzing, constraints we place on ourselves.  An aspect of ‘free’ living I’d like to explore further is celebrating your accomplishments; knowing when and how to accept what you’ve done and the attended praise.  This is something I have never, ever been good at and until recently I had no idea how much it really has affected my life.  Thanks to a fantastic best friend I had visiting from Canada for shedding light on this for me so that I may find a better celebratory solution.  She was NOT having it anymore and sometimes best friends can give you just the kick in the pants you need to see a little more clearly.  :)

June was a very special month for me.  Aside from it being my birthday month, it also marked a year that Nutrish’N on a Mission was a filed business and sent out my first newsletter.  On top of that greatness I got to take an impromptu trip to the gorgeous California and my best friend from high school came to visit me!  All in all many reasons to celebrate the month of June!  I have spoken candidly about the importance of gratitude and I have made it a daily practice to express gratitude for the multitude of blessings in my life.  However, I almost completely let this anniversary pass me by. 

While my friend was visiting we got into one of our girl talks about our lives in general and where we are now.  Even though I have oodles to be grateful for I was letting filth spew from my lips; about my body and what I would like to be different, how tired I was of working so hard and blah, blah, blah!  This is when you know whether or not you have a true friend by your side because one of these friends will NOT let you continue on your path of self-pity.  She lovingly, but firmly, expressed her confusion about my lack of insight of my accomplishments.  She reminded me how far I have come in the past 5 years.  I have been diagnosed with immune disorders and neuropathy yet I have not let it slow me down.  I have redirected my career and created a company that literally helps others look and feel better inside and out.  I was recently asked to start training to become a Barre instructor for Urban Yoga, a practice I am so passionate about.  I completed school while working 50 hours at and started this weekly blog I so LOVE creating.  I have lost 20 pounds, kept it off, and weigh what I did as a ninth grader in high school.  I could keep going because I am always on the go however this is not a blog about my brag list.  I rattle off these milestones to point out how easily we continue pressing forward without looking back and acknowledging how far we have climbed. 

I am a climber, always moving up up up.  Always striving for more, thinking outside of the box, craving a more peaceful world.  Yet maybe I have been climbing with too heavy of a backpack.  One that I have filled with negative opinions of myself, past afflictions and armor to guard my sensitive soul.  Luckily, until now, I have been able to continue climbing with such weight.  However, my recent revelation thanks to Miss Meghan has me thinking a little differently about my climb.  While I have began to value the importance of living in the present moment I find reflection equally as important.  With reflection I am able to value that of which has served me.  I am also able to remove from my backpack that which no longer serves me.  I am my own worst enemy.  I weigh myself down from climbing to unknown heights because of my insecurities and by repeating my same mistakes.  The good news is I have the awareness now.  I can begin to discern my cyclic behavior and guide my thoughts and actions to a place of progression.  This means stopping sometimes and breathing in the fresh air.  Looking down at the mountain you’ve climbed and giving thanks to treacherous yet fulfilling journey. 

I encourage all of my friends to take this day to really reflect on the amount of freedom you have in your life.  Also, notice the areas in which you are bound.  Make a conscious effort to extend gratitude to all that has been bestowed upon you and have the strength to let go of that which no longer serves you.  Our country is celebrating its freedom today but let’s also acknowledges the freedom that resides in our hearts.  Life is a celebration so put on your party hat!