Every year on the Fourth of July, I’m overcome with a sense of gratitude. Gratitude for this beautiful country I get to live in. Gratitude for the bravery of those who came before us—men and women who stood up, spoke out, and sacrificed so that future generations could live in freedom.
I don’t take that lightly.
I always swell with pride at the sight of a waving flag or when I pass military bases. I will, without fail, cry every time I hear the song, “God Bless the USA.” America is far from perfect, but it’s a place where we are still allowed to think independently, speak freely, and fight for what we believe in. And to me, that is everything.
This week, as fireworks light up the sky and flags wave high, I find myself reflecting not just on political freedom, but on another kind of freedom that’s just as important to me: health freedom.
At Selene River Press, we talk a lot about this. We fight for it. We live it. Health freedom means the right to choose food that nourishes our bodies, to access therapies and practices that align with our values, and to be educated, not manipulated, about what true wellness looks like.
And just like the patriots who risked everything for our country’s independence, we have our own version of the Founding Fathers; pioneers who stood strong when it wasn’t popular or easy to go against the grain.
People like Dr. Royal Lee, who saw the value of whole food nutrition long before the mainstream caught on.
Dr. Weston A. Price, who traveled the world to study traditional diets and brought back the radical truth: nature knows best.
Dr. Harvey Wiley, who warned against food adulteration and fought for purity in what we eat.
Dr. Francis Pottenger Jr., who revealed how nutrition impacts generations not just individuals.
And Sir Robert McCarrison, who connected nutrition to national health decades before it was widely accepted.
These men didn’t have flashy platforms or social media followings. But they had something better: truth, courage, and an unwavering commitment to the health of future generations.
So this Independence Day, while we celebrate the freedom given to us by the Founding Fathers of our nation, I also hope we remember the freedom we continue to protect every day in the world of holistic health.
It’s not a passive privilege. It’s something we fight for with every informed choice, every teaching moment, every pushback against misinformation, and every meal made with care and integrity.
Let’s use this holiday not just to celebrate, but to recommit to our country, to each other, and to the kind of freedom that runs deeper than words.
Because real freedom includes the ability to nourish our bodies, protect our children’s futures, and keep the truth alive.
Happy Fourth of July, from my family to yours. ❤️🤍💙
Image from iStock/twilightproductions.
