Happy almost Fourth of July, America! As we get ready to celebrate with picnics, pool time, family, and fireworks, I thought it would be a good time to take stock of the things you should and shouldn’t count tomorrow – and even every day (although not every day includes parades and fireworks!).
Things not to count:
- The calories in that delicious burger hot from the grill.
- The miles you didn’t run because you went to the parade instead.
- The number on the scale.
- The size of your pants.
- The servings you have of your cousin’s baked beans that taste just like your grandma used to make.
Things to definitely count:
- The hugs you give and receive when seeing friends and family.
- The times you laugh until your stomach hurts.
- The oohs and ahhs you hear during the fireworks show.
- The size of the cannonball you make when jumping in the water.
- The moments that will become memories.
Be nice to yourself tomorrow, and throughout the the holiday weekend. Enjoy the moments with your loved ones. Have some fried chicken, corn fritters, and peanut butter ice cream. Swim if you feel like it, or just float around on a raft and catch some rays.
Despite the messages we are constantly bombarded with from the media, you don’t need to be hyper-vigilant about your diet and exercise routine tomorrow. You don’t need to read lists of calorie counts to make sure you’re only taking the “good” stuff from the buffet. You don’t need to pre-game by working out for three hours so you can “cheat” at the family picnic.
Give yourself permission to enjoy life tomorrow. Heck, enjoy life every day! Eat, move, laugh, love. That whole thing about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”? Figure out what makes you happy, and do more of that.
Happy birthday, America!
