Freedom

Sometimes I think people hear the world freedom and think that word and its related concept means just one all encompassing thing. In reality, there are actually several freedoms and sometimes people can pick and choose which one they want. Maybe a better way to look at it is the use the world luxury. America was founded on an idea that each individual not only could, but had a right to, pursue happiness. That idea doesn’t exist and is at this point unrealistic. Who gets to define this happiness? What about the people who are only happy when using an illegal drug or murdering people? Those people do not have the right to pursue happiness. As a country, that was decided. At an extreme, it can be easy, but it’s the middle ground, the gray area that gets people.

I’m watching again the series band of brothers. I don’t know why exactly, but it reminded me of the choices I have made to obtain the little freedoms I have now, or rather, the luxuries I have now. I have the freedom to do so many things. I imagine many people may take them for grated. When I have a bad day, I remind myself I made a choice and because of that choice I have the freedom to do things like choose what food I keep in my kitchen that I share with my husband. I have mornings I skip through songs on my way to work, not listening to any one in its entirety. I have the freedom to do that and it’s wonderful. I don’t know why I didn’t see it this way before. It makes it so much easier to find peace with it all. I conformed, and in return I can go outside for long walks and eat my lunch in the sunshine. The list is so long it will keep me busy for the rest of my life.