To the people out there who fear food.

Who saved their calories for this day.

Who dread the picnics and the barbecues and the potato salad and the pie.

Who have their July 5 workouts planned out to burn it all off.

I want you to know that this is not how life has to be. That gatherings can be joyous. That celebrating shouldn’t come with a side of guilt. That you can relinquish control, and rediscover your freedom along the way.

I hope you eat whatever the hell you want today, and keep doing it for the rest of this beautiful life. Wishing a wonderful holiday to all the Americans, and a day of independence to every single person around the globe who stumbles upon this corner of the internet.