In the light of recent events, more and more people are facing restrictions on their freedom (freedom of movement mostly).
Presently I’m experiencing the freedom from work (staying at home). It started yesterday, and nobody knows how long it will last. But I have a freedom of choices: I can communicate with my husband (before he leaves for work), exercise, read, clean my house, knit, cook, go for a walk with a dog or alone, just don’t go to public places and meet with friends in person.
Can we call it freedom though? There is no correct answer, everyone decides for him(her)self.
“I am not going to worry about things I can’t control”, I hear that from my husband every now and then. It always calms me down. Right now I only need to accept the situation and enjoy this forced freedom from work.
But what do you think about freedom in general? What is freedom for you? Are you free?
For me, freedom is an opportunity to live with a person who is interested in my opinion and values it, to express my thoughts, do what I like, and just be myself.
Someone will say, ” Why think about freedom at all if we are not imprisoned?”. And indeed, if a person does not have a sore hand, then he just does not think about it, but continues to possess it. It is the same with freedom. We only think of it when we face some kind of restriction.
Most often we think about freedom if we have passed through a certain experience.
We can say that this experience begins in childhood. But as children, we just can’t change the situation. We do what our parents think is best for us.
When we grow up, we fall within the framework of public opinion in our social environment. We try to behave correctly, even if it goes against our beliefs. But to some extent I can accept the situation with public opinion. The world would be in chaos if people stopped following the basic rules of etiquette.
I’m more concerned about unhealthy relationships in some families. When one partner dictates to the other how to live, what to wear, what to do, where to look. And it turns out that this “other” does not live his (her) own life. It may be convenient for someone , you do not need to think and take responsibility, just go with the flow.
The other eventually begins to think, and he (she) faces the problem of choosing whether to act or go with the flow. In order to act you must be brave or/and fed up with the current situation. It is not easy to be bold. This requires a certain character.
About 20 years ago, I hated myself for my lack of character, for not being brave and not being able to defend my point of view. I still find it difficult to defend myself and my opinion. However, right now I have the freedom I’ve always wanted. I can express my thoughts and my husband will listen to me and don’t even correct my English but support and try to help.
So let’s not be discouraged, but let’s be free, brave, appreciate our loved ones and find the positive in any situation.
Here are some quotes I found online, feel free to continue….
“Freedom lies in being bold” —Robert Frost
“Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.” —Epictetus
“Freedom means the opportunity to be what we never thought we would be.” —Daniel J. Boorstin
Write your favorite quote in the “Add your thought” box
