Somewhere I heard recently was a saying from an old movie that was something like “Freedom is in knowing who you are.” For some reason, I have not been able to get that thought out of my head. When I think of freedom, I usually think of things like I can be who I want to be, or I can do what I want to do. But lately, that isn’t true in our world as much as it once was isn’t it? I mean, I the dream job doesn’t always come with the paycheck needed to make it in this world. However, in many ways I feel like I have a freedom many people don’t realize because everyone is so busy trying to change everyone else. I may be below the poverty line in terms of wealth unable to afford many things I want to do, but I am still free from other opinions dragging me down. I am free because I am who I am and no one can take that away from me. People may not like my humor or beliefs or even lack of beliefs but that doesn’t change who I am. If it changes anything, it only changes who they are because they are the one worried and stressing about my choices, not me. And it’s more than that too. I believe respect is a two way street. If I want someone to respect me and my life, then I should show them equal respect even if our lifestyles or religions are as opposite as opposite can be. There is an amazing feeling of peace and freedom when I meet people who are just friendly and don’t care about my personal feelings on life or politics. It’s just simply fun and freeing.
I grew up with someone telling me what kind of foods I will like, what I am allowed to wear or what I am not allowed to wear, and even what religion to believe in. However, once I became an adult I began choosing these simple choices for myself. That is when I discovered my love of Chinese food when I was told before I will hate and that’s that. As I began to explore the world that opened at my feet, I began to feel so excited and free. Now that I have had several years on my own living wild and crazy adventures from state to state, I can see there is truth in the saying that freedom is knowing you are. I know I am an open-minded person who couldn’t care less what you believe, who you love, what you look like, or your past and politics. No one can take my quirky personality away from me, or my friends that I have made over the years. I may have lost contact with some on and off again over the years, but they are still there with their hand of friendship as am I. I have freedom in knowing nothing in the world can take my thoughts, feelings, likes, dislikes, or any other part of me from me. That is why I have found peace and freedom in that. I am not angry when people try to change me anymore. I use to be, don’t get me wrong. But now I understand in their own twisted way it comes from a good intention on their side. It doesn’t make it right, but it helps me discover who really loves me for me, which only adds to the freedom from people who don’t love me for me.
I am who I am and only I can change me. That is something I am proud of and hold on too. What about you?
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