This weekend America celebrates 250 years of independence.
And while I love a good sparkler, backyard barbecue, and questionable amount of watermelon as much as the next person, I've been thinking about a different kind of freedom.
The kind that doesn't come with fireworks.
The kind that comes when you finally stop apologizing for taking up space.
When you stop shrinking yourself to make other people comfortable.
When you stop waiting for permission.
When you stop living a life that feels too small for your spirit.
Freedom from fear.
Freedom from toxic people.
Freedom from old stories.
Freedom from debt.
Freedom from perfectionism.
Freedom from believing your best days are behind you.
Freedom from that tiny voice that keeps whispering, "Who do you think you are?"
This year, my wish for you isn't just a happy Fourth of July.
It's that you begin declaring independence from whatever has been holding you hostage.
Because life is too short to spend it trapped in a cage you didn't build.
🎆 My Independence Day Anthem for Survivors
Speaking of freedom...
I wrote what may be the most ridiculous and accurate thing I've ever written:
"Freedom Ain't Free (But Neither Is Therapy): A Toxic Relationship Independence Day Anthem."
It's part comedy, part truth bomb, part emotional support fireworks display.
If you've ever celebrated because someone didn't yell at you today...
If you've ever mistaken basic human decency for a miracle...
Fair warning: beverages may be snorted through nostrils.
🍹 Patriotic Treats That Won't Require a Second Mortgage
Inflation may be out here acting feral, but we can still celebrate without financing the potato salad.
Red, White & Blue Mocktail
Lemonade
Frozen blueberries
Frozen strawberries
Sparkling water
Fancy? No.
Delicious? Absolutely.
Cost: Approximately one-third of a Starbucks.
Freedom Fruit Tray
Watermelon
Strawberries
Blueberries
Arrange in a flag shape and suddenly you're Pinterest.
Backyard Nacho Bar
One giant tray of chips.
Add:
Ground beef or turkey
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Salsa
Feeds a crowd without requiring a small business loan.
Bomb Pop Floats
Drop a Bomb Pop into lemon-lime soda.
You're welcome.
🥵 How to Survive the Heat Without Melting Into a Human Puddle
✔ Freeze grapes for snacks.
✔ Put a damp washcloth in the freezer for 15 minutes.
✔ Visit libraries, museums, bookstores, and malls for free air conditioning.
✔ Walk early morning or after sunset.
✔ Drink water like it's your part-time job.
✔ Stop pretending coffee counts as hydration.
(Yes, I am speaking directly to myself.)
🎇 Celebrate Without the Crowds
Not everyone enjoys sitting in traffic for four hours to watch fireworks for seventeen minutes.
Some budget-friendly alternatives:
✨ Pack a picnic and watch local fireworks from a nearby park or school field.
✨ Beach sunset + takeout.
✨ Backyard movie night.
✨ Front porch cocktails and people-watching.
✨ Family game night.
✨ Stargazing.
✨ Campfire and s'mores.
The older I get, the more luxurious "not dealing with people" feels.
🎁 The Freedom Sale Is Officially ON
Since we're celebrating independence this weekend, it felt like the perfect time to celebrate another kind of freedom too.
The kind that changes your actual life.
Freedom from toxic relationships.
Freedom from financial stress.
Freedom from feeling stuck.
Freedom from self-doubt.
Freedom from the exhausting habit of putting everyone else's dreams ahead of your own.
So through the holiday weekend, I've slashed prices throughout my Gumroad shop—with many of my most-loved resources available for just $2.50, and larger transformation bundles marked down to $25.
Here are a few reader favorites:
💸 Money Freedom Starter Kit: No More Broke Girl Energy A practical roadmap for women ready to stop surviving and start building real financial security.
💻 Build Your Empire $3 at a Time 17 ridiculously simple ways to use ChatGPT to create income online—even if you're starting from scratch and wondering what the heck you're doing.
✨ The Freedom Empire Starter Pack For women who are ready to stop trading every hour for dollars and start creating freedom on their own terms.
🔥 Build Your Escape Plan: Digital Freedom Edition One of my most important resources for women navigating difficult relationships and planning their next chapter safely and strategically.
❤️ Broke But Brave For the woman who knows she needs to leave but feels trapped by money, fear, logistics, or all three.
🧠 From Chaos to Calm in 15 A quick nervous system reset for those days when life feels like a raccoon driving a shopping cart through your brain.
💰 Money, Magic & Momentum Bundle Everything you need to begin building confidence, income, and momentum toward the life you actually want.
📖 Hot Flashes & Hexes Because sometimes midlife reinvention deserves a little magic.
Plus planners, journals, manifestation tools, wellness guides, budgeting resources, visibility tools, self-care planners, and enough inspiration to make your future self proud.
So wherever this email finds you today, I hope you eat something delicious, laugh too hard, watch something sparkle in the sky, and remember:
You were never meant to spend your life trapped.
Freedom looks damn good on you.
Happy Fourth of July.
Love,
Jessi ❤️
P.S. If you're enjoying these newsletters, articles, and my ongoing adventures in healing, reinvention, and occasionally setting metaphorical red flags on fire, you can support my caffeine habit here:
My brain has many ideas and very little regard for bedtime.
