Tag: July 4

Independence with Responsibility

We just finished observing Independence Day weekend; for Americans it is a time of celebration as we commemorate our freedom from the tyrannical rule of kings in Britain. As of July 4, 1776, a single person was no longer the most powerful thing in our nation; the law was now the supreme ruler. While our union has not always been perfect [refer to centuries of chattel slavery], I would like to think that we are guided by this idea.

Unfortunately, there are many who focus on independence, liberty, and freedom without understanding the responsibilities that must go along with them. The thirteen colonies did not declare their independence from the British in order to create an anarchist society where anything goes; on the contrary, it was an imperfect attempt to create an egalitarian system where people are treated with dignity and where we support each other. The Constitution (which came about 13 years later) was the “responsibility” that came along with the “freedom.” Two years later, the Bill of Rights was ratified; in other words, our obligations came first and our rights came later.

This narrative parallels the story of the Hebrews’ exodus from Egypt in the Book of Exodus. The people were freed from the tyranny of Pharaoh and Egyptian servitude; they were not released in order to run around like wild people in the wilderness. On the contrary, according to Jewish tradition, the people received the Law at Mt. Sinai exactly seven weeks later. They were set free in order to be able to serve each other and God; the Torah was their guidebook.

What does any of this have to do with fitness? We are given our bodies as a possession with which we can do as we please (although your actual mileage may vary). We are autonomous beings. We can choose to live in a healthy way–exercising, eating healthily, getting proper rest, etc.–or we can let unhealthy habits take over our lives. Our bodies provide us a certain amount of freedom, but we have a responsibility to our bodies as well. If we do not treat them right, they will rebel and we will suffer.

As we make our way into the 250th year of American independence, let us reflect upon our obligations to others to help make this country a place of peace, justice, opportunity, and liberty. Let us also not forget the obligations we have to our own physical well-being; without our health, it is impossible to fulfill our other responsibilities.

Freedom From, Freedom To…

The Declaration of Independence

As we conclude our celebration of Independence Day, it is worth reflecting on the meaning of the day. So often we refer to Independence Day simply as “July 4th,” without really thinking about the history behind it. Independence Day is first and foremost about the United States of America’s (although it was not yet called that) separation from the sovereignty of Great Britain. The colonists organized a rebellion (or revolution) against the monarchy that had imposed onerous demands on the settlers. They sought to establish their independence in order to ensure “certain inalienable rights;” among these were life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We must, of course, recognize that not everyone was included in that statement; most notably those of African descent were not figured into the equation. In the eyes of the founders, independence from Great Britain was not just so that the colonists could do whatever they wanted. There was a bigger picture: a grand experiment in democracy and self-determination. Although the ideal is not fully achieved for everyone, the strides are worth celebrating.

Many of the founders of our nation were inspired by the biblical story of the Israelites’ liberation from Egyptian slavery (as were generations of enslaved Africans). In the Book of Exodus, the Children of Israel were not set free from Egypt so that they could do whatever they wanted. According to Jewish tradition, exactly seven weeks after leaving slavery the people stood at Mt. Sinai and received the Law from God. The Israelites were freed from the rule of Pharaoh in order to accept the rule of God and Divine Law. This parallels the founders of this country; they were freed from the rule of Great Britain in order to undertake the rule of law as established by a representative democracy and set down in the Constitution.

Freedom should not be just for the sake of doing whatever we want, but rather in order to serve a higher calling.

This idea has applications in the world of fitness and health as well. So many of us are enslaved to bad habits: unhealthy eating, sedentary lifestyles, poor work/life balance, and not getting enough quality rest. What is the purpose of breaking those behaviors? Of course, we all want to be healthier or look better, but perhaps there needs to be a deeper reason. In working with older adults, I have discovered that many clients seek freedom from bad habits in order to be able to enjoy their lives; for some that means travel, for others it is keeping up with grandkids, for others it is just being able to live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

Freedom from bad habits, gives us freedom to do so much more. At first, it may seem restricting to not just do whatever we want when it comes to diet and exercise; ultimately, however, a healthy lifestyle has the potential to give us the real freedom we seek.

Wishing everyone a great summer. May we remember our freedom “from” in order to achieve our freedom “to.”