Declare Your Personal Independence Day

Although written in 2020 – I believe this post has relevance in today’s world.

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When Glenn and I left the United States and moved to Mexico it was with the intention to become roamers.

We now have Mexican temporary residency and have a lovely home base and good friends to come home to, from wherever our pin lands on the big geographical/mental map.

We are both wanderers at heart. Glenn visited one-hundred countries and me fifty-three.

And, we remember our bohemian times galavanting around the world as a montage of happy moments. We want that again. Our goal was six to eight months a year in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, then travel the remaining months. We had almost three years of itineraries planned out on our calendar.

When COVID-19 happened, everything changed, for everyone.

We each had to take a breath and attempt to release control over the things we could not change, and find our personal independence. That has been a challenge and a goal.

What did we want out of life? If life stayed the way it is right now.

Today is Independence Day in the United States. Yet, I don’t think most people in the country feel truly independent. Many have built personal cages, the climb up the ladder, the need for a large bank account, society norms, that they are unable to break free from.

“Taxation without representation!” That was the battle cry. We rebelled when we were forced to pay taxes to England despite having no representation in the British Parliament. Doesn’t that sound eerily familiar today? We pay taxes and there is no way our government is representative of its people. It declares one law after another designed to keep control over, and take from, its chattel. To me, the United States has become one of the least free countries in the world. Its plight has worsened in the time we have been gone. But the persona of individuality and freedom persists.

We wanted something different.

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The day we left, I declared my own personal Independence Day, and I have had one ever since. I was going to return to the mentality I had when traveling. And I had my mantra.

• I would break my cage.
• I would seize the moment.
• I would explore with all my heart.
• I would be inquisitive and learn from my surroundings.
• I would become healthy.
• I would document.
• I would embrace my individuality.
• I would spend money wisely and not look towards it to make me happy.
• I would relax and breathe with intention.
• I would find my best life with Bipolar 1 and ADHD.
• I would not simply exist.
• I would follow my dreams.
• I could do anything.
• I will leave an exclamation mark when I die.

I am striving to honor this pledge and accomplish my goals, each day finds me closer.

During COVID:

• Even though we are stopped from wandering the world at this time, we can still wander San Miguel and it’s surrounding.
• We can still meet new people, just at a distance. I am attending several ZOOM writers groups a week.
• We can be inquisitive; Glenn is learning how to cook and found an interest in reading, and I am learning how to write and achieve my goal to one day have my memoirs published.
• We are getting out of the house, eating well, and doing YouTube pilates.
• I am continuing to write our Expat Lifestyle and Travel Blog – Our Prime Of Life and have launched a new blog for writing – Ria Talken Writes.
• I have a new hair color and have reintroduced jewelry and color into my wardrobe.
• I say what I mean.
• We aren’t in debt and we spend money on experiences rather than things.
• We are following our dreams of creating a life we can be proud of.
• My husband and I love each other for what we can both bring to our relationship, we have achieved an equal partnership of support and honoring our differences.
• I have found peace with my Bipolar and ADHD.
• And, I believe with persistence and an open mind, we can do anything.

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Don’t let someone else determine your fate. Believe in, search for, and love those who want to raise you up, not tear you down. It may take soul-searching and difficult change to accomplish a life that is best for YOU. But now is the time to take charge and live.

Declare your Independence.

P.S. why not write a paragraph about your independence and post it in the comments below. We would love to be uplifted and learn from others.