What does it mean to me to be free?

 

Let me reword that first sentence. To me, what does air imply? What is the significance of eating in my life? What does it mean to me to be happy? They've all given the same response. It means the world to me. You might as well ask me what I would do if I were you, because the only way to leave without freedom is to wait for death and hope that it is gentler than slavery. I can't put into words exactly what it means to me, but I know I'd never trade it for all the money in the world.

What does it mean to me to be free?

Let me reword that first sentence. To me, what does air imply? What is the significance of eating in my life? What does it mean to me to be happy? They've all given the same response. It means the world to me. You might as well ask me what I would do if I were you, because the only way to leave without freedom is to wait for death and hope that it is gentler than slavery. I can't put into words exactly what it means to me, but I know I'd never trade it for all the money in the world. It's because I've been imprisoned, as you know. I've been helpless, insane, and desperate to the point of biting my nails until I tasted blood. You inquire as to what freedom entails. It's the ability to recognise yourself and know without a doubt that you are not owned by anyone. Your truth is never created, and your word is always our word. It's the simple ability to simply be for the purpose of being.

You have the opportunity to devote yourself to what you care about while you are free. Your entire existence is dedicated to you. When you're imprisoned, even the nicest and kindest form of captivity that is so widespread these days, you don't have that luxury. You're probably wondering what I'm talking about when I say that. A depressed CEO with overflowing accounts isn't really free, a lady with a baby she didn't choose to develop within her isn't really free, and lousy customer service with a permanent fake grin isn't really free.

But, Nicky, these aren't all the same kind of incarceration, and believe me when I say that any of them may easily kill you. Remember the old adage that "my mountain could be your molehill." And that, my friends, is the threshold of liberty. To do whatever you want while remaining within the bounds of morality and human ideals. To be able to put a price on your life that can't be matched. But, you could argue, how is the CEO not free? Do you believe there is only one type of liberty? Nonsense. There are various types, and I will slightly contradict myself by saying that having your freedom seized by force is far worse than giving it away by one deed or another. Yes, there is much worse, but what we must strive for as humans is a well-rounded freedom of comfort that encompasses all aspects of our lives, so that none of them take control of the rest and render them insignificant. For as much money as you have, if it takes control of your emotion, happiness, and casts a shadow over the little things that are important in life, you are essentially a prisoner of your own freedom.

So, while we pray for Ukraine in these trying times, we should go down in a quiet place and count our blessings, naming them one by one if possible, and then imagining what life would be like if we didn't have one of the benefits we enumerated. Keep in mind that I am not advocating quitting your work and releasing yourself from all potential freedom restraints, such as employment and relationships. Simply said, if you are not in a war-torn nation where you must abandon all you have worked so hard to achieve in order to go, you should guarantee that you have a semblance of freedom that will give you a reason to live and be happy while you go about your business.