Like many people, I chafe at a harness. I struggle with 40-hour workweeks and societal expectations and, um, owning things that cost more than $200. I like to live my life in a way that would allow me to sell everything I own and move to Russia next month.We all have our personal versions of freedom. For some of us, it's a committed relationship where we know that we can be 100% ourselves. Or a well-tuned car that can see you across the country and back. Or a degree in a field that can take you anywhere.
For me, freedom is spending a Friday night in my underwear, reading Harry Potter and eating shredded cheese directly out of the bag. It's traveling on my own, talking to strangers and navigating strange cities. It's wearing inappropriate outfits to Ikea on a Sunday morning. It's knowing that my parents' only hope for my future is that I'm happy. It's knowing that I can find work in virtually any country in the world.
What does freedom mean to you?
25 comments:
Freedom means waking up in the morning and being excited about the day. It means making plans and goals and then fufilling them. It means starting my own business (albeit a small one) and creating things. Freedom means not being afraid. It means not having to conform.
Thanks, Sarah. That was a lovely post.
"It's wearing inappropriate outfits to Ikea on a Sunday morning."
This is the kind of freedom I want to try, sometimes I worry too much about what people think, and should not be like that.
What a great post1 :)
Freedom to me is grabbing a few semi-sweet chocolate chips everytime I feel like it.
Freedom for me is wearing what I wore the whole day to bed.
Freedom is having my own place where I don't have to make the bed, I can eat breakfast for dinner and ice cream for breakfast, take steamy hot showers, watch what I want on TV, and put my feet on the coffee table. Freedom is those rare moments when I truly don't care what anyone thinks of me. Freedom is wearing flip-flops in the snow. Freedom is walking the dog in my PJs. Freedom is going to a country music concert and listening to Jay-Z on the ride home. Freedom is writing, reading, saying whatever I want, whatever I feel, whatever I need.
haha great post! Freedom for me is being able to dance like no one is watching, sing like no one is listening, love like you've never been hurt and live like its heaven on earth!!! haha
Ah, such a lovely topic!
I have found freedom in the ability to make all decisions from a place that is true to my heart, rather than from fear. Corny, but important, as this is something I neglected prior to marrying an alcoholic and exerting tons of energy scrambling up the corporate ladder and trying to shove my little square peg into a corporate round hole. So, it is a lesson filed under "I know that now!"
After I left home and got into my own apartment, a girlfriend bought be a plaque that says, "In a world where you can be anything, be yourself." True dat. Now, with all decisions I ask, "am I doing this out of fear or love?" It's a reliable method.
Oh, and freedom is having the opportunity to both pay your rent AND afford fantastic shoes that make you look and feel queenly.
Cheers!
Catherine
Such wise words! I can always count on you and coming to Yes and Yes for wisdom like this.
For me, freedom is deciding that I'd rather find a part time nanny job and a cocktail job than go back to cubicle life... and be totally content with that.
I'm similar to you, freedom for me is being able to decide anything and go through with it. However, I find that in most cases the biggest (and only) barrier is in the head.
For me freedom is being successful at what i enjoy the most. The rest comes with success!
Thank you so much Sarah for bringing out this philosophical subject! Do you really want to sell everything you own and move to Russia?
D-Frost: Maybe! But I've done the 'sell everything and move to another country bit' three times in the last five years, so I'm hunkering down for a bit these days.
But I like to keep my options open, ya know? ;D
It's being able to make my own plans without having to okay-it with anyone first. Being able to change my mind without feeling pressure not to. And just feeling secure in myself; confident enough and motivated enough. That's freedom right there. Freedom from my own limitations.
Agh, I'm with you on being free and not being constrained by anything. For me now, freedom is being able to quit a job I'm unhappy with and being able to look until I found something that I really do like and want to do.
And I think the best freedom is traveling alone and being in a strange city and discovering the people and culture on your own.
Freedom to me is having the guts to get out there and make it happen for ME, instead of worrying about what I think others expect from me. Follow my heart and find my way!
GREAT post, Sar!
I think this is one of my favorite posts so far. I love the idea of freedom, especially not in the 'patriotic of die' kind of sense.
Freedom to me is being able to walk down a street and not know where I'll end, stopping in along the way if I feel like it. It's reading a book on a plane as I'm off somewhere new, or as I'm headed back home. Freedom is reading the newspaper/blogs on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee in hand in a quiet, peaceful coffee shop.
Your words are perfect and wonderful. Freedom to me is spending the day in the park with quiet, a good book, and a cup of tea. And sun, lots of sun.
Freedom to me is arranging my life in such a way that I can do what I want, whenever I want. It's a perfect day to go to the beach? Let's go! An impromptu camping trip this weekend? Whee! Taking a long lunch with a friend? Yes please!
I'm working on getting there. =)
Freedom is days at a time with no obligations, no one relying on me, and no plans.
Freedom is accepting that I'm doing exactly what I want to do even though it's purely for intellectual enjoyment rather than 'productivity,' and finally not being afraid of not having money. It's dressing up for life instead of just for special occasions and not being offended or annoyed by having to explain myself to people who ask.
Let's talk about how relevant this is to my life right now. Guess what I just did? SURPRISED MY PARENTS BY TELLING THEM I WANT TO MOVE TO HAWAII!
Horray! Is it going to happen? Absolutely. Do I know when? Not entirely, but absolutely when I want to be ready for it. :)
Allyson
asmellygirl.com
Wow. Your idea of freedom sounds a lot like mine. Freedom is traveling across Europe, eating ice cream in my underwear...you get the point. :)
i'm not sure why i haven't found your blog sooner than this... i'm pretty sure that i like you more and more with each post i read. i'm supposed to be packing up my house and MOVING right now, and i've been reading your blog for, oh, maybe 45 minutes at this point?!
oh, and hi! i'm diana :)
Freedom means never fearing failure.
Freedom is the power to be in control of your life, and make decisions independently of outside influences such as parents, partners, friends etc. Or at least, that's what it means to me lately.
Freedom is knowing that the universe within myself is as vast as the universe outside myself,
and not being afraid or intimidated by either.
also, not sure why i didn't add this to the first comment where i said "hi," but freedom to me is knowing that i can make whatever decision i want, WHENEVER i want to, (we all can!) and know that i have the strength and capabilities in me to see it through to the good point, even if it's hard, even if it's terrifying, uncomfortable, strange, extremely difficult and sometimes painful at first.
freedom (to me) is knowing that i am in complete charge of my future - just like we all are - and that i can make my life exactly how i want it to be.
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