I met a gentle soul on the beach recently.
He was a traveler and he told me he was a student of freedom and sharing his observations with others as he made his way around Australia.
Of course this got me thinking.
How does one actually study freedom?
What does freedom really mean?
How do you achieve freedom in a busy world?
After much deliberation on the topic, the closest explanation I can come up with as to how to study freedom is, I guess you have to live it and observe how other people experience freedom. As people are different and live such a variety of lifestyles, it seems like it would be an ongoing and never ending study and a very interesting one as well.
Can you feel and experience a sense of freedom but still have a job, mortgage, child rearing responsibilities, bills to pay etc? Most people’s immediate answer would probably be no, but having been a conscious daily meditator for over 30 years, although I still live with many responsibilities both financially and as a carer of a home and several rescue animals, I don’t feel restricted or ‘tied down’ and with an online business income, I have the option to come and go as I please.
Is this freedom?
Maybe not to some but to me, most definitely.
Freedom, to me, is:
(a) having my own business so I’m not answerable to anyone regarding my source of income. I started thinking like this when I was about 15 years of age!
(b) the ability to generate what income I decide I want and the hours I choose to work. Many people are highly skilled and efficient but are paid way less than they are worth, for working 35-40 + hours per week for someone else. Not my idea of freedom and gives me the horrors.
(c) a sharp intuition and insight into other people so I know who to choose as friends and who it’s best (for my well-being) to stay away from.
(d) fresh food, clean drinking water and a comfortable place in which to rest, sleep and gather my thoughts and pursue my varied interests.
(e) the option to go for a lovely long walk with my human and animal loved ones whenever the mood takes me and the ability to choose the types of exercise I prefer.
(f) the privilege of being able to relax and bathe in the magnificent world of nature. The bush, beaches, gardens, wide open spaces, the wind, rain, sunshine (especially sunshine!) to me are all sources of feeling complete and total freedom.
(g) the awesome privilege of being in the presence of animals. Their deep connection to the earth and nature and the way they live totally in the present moment always brings me great peace and feelings of magnificent freedom.
(h) the ability to use my mind, gain knowledge and awareness and make choices according to my values and the option to live my life as I choose.
I’ve come to the conclusion that if people want more freedom in their lives but are not in a situation where they can travel freely, freedom is still attainable. It’s the little daily practices that bring freedom and freedom is a state of mind, nothing more, and nothing less. Incarcerated prisoners have regularly stated that as they came to terms with their past and their behavior and came to peace within themselves, they experienced more freedom in prison than they did out in the world.
So a big thank you to the lovely man I met on the beach – our conversation prompted me to ponder my chosen lifestyle as I thought about his days compared to my own and I wondered whether I have actually chosen a life of freedom – and I have, and I’m filled with gratitude for who I am and how I have come to this point in my life.
How do you experience Freedom and what changes would you make if Freedom is important to you?
With Freedom of Choice, Every Day Gets Better.
Wendy
Thanks, Wendy! I’ve been putting some photos of the progress of the cabin on Facebook if you want to look at them. I’m working in the cabin now, but soon my rabbits and I will be in the cabin full time. 🙂
Just viewed your pics Sara. It looks so lovely and peaceful and you and the rabbits will so enjoy living there! What a fantastic achievement ??
I know this is an old post, but I wanted to comment. What a nice story about the man on the beach! It reminds me that there are lots of people like that, living different lives than what we think of as”normal.” I guess I’m also one of these”different” people, too. I like the freedom of working online, also, and not in a 9to 5 position. I do transcription for a few people, don’t make a lot of money. But my idea of real freedom, I think, is in finishing my little cabin outside with the bare minimum and compost toilet. I’m close to moving in out of my parents house. I’ve always wanted to live simply, and I experienced that when I lived in Alaska for a few years without electricity or plumbing. It gave me a good idea of what I feel I really need, and it’s not as much as we’re led to believe.
You are most welcome to go back through any of my old posts Sara and your comments will always be welcome. I like to think my writing has evolved (and perhaps even improved) a little since then though! But it’s me, in different phases of my life and that’s ok. Your work sounds interesting and it’s great you’re working from home as you so choose. I love your goal of living in your cabin, simply and very much in tune with nature. I too think we are conditioned to believe we need lots of ‘things’ around us. Living simply has great merits for us and for the environment. I’ll be looking forward to hearing of your progress with your cabin. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas, I very much enjoy reading them and getting to know you better. ❤️