Freedom

 (In response to the post by 'JustJason' asking "What does freedom mean to you? Do you ever feel free? What makes you feel free and how does it feel to be free?")

  I think that it's impossible to actually have freedom because we are restricted by laws, obligations, and what is physically possible. However, even though there are things that stop us from having complete freedom, if we don't see these obstacles as such then they aren't really restricting. For example, lets say I want to go away for a couple days but I can't get time off work. You'd think that would limit my freedom, but if I'm not concerned about the concequences, and I just skip work than I have a bit of freedom. So, it really depends on how restricted you feel from the concequences of acting outside of these rules and responsibilities. 

 Freedom, to me, is a state of mind. There are times when I feel free... like, when my friends and I decide to climb the escartment. We'll be on a hike, and look up and see a place that looks fun to climb and we'll just go at it. We get to the top covered in dirt, scratches all over, collapse on the ground- and it feels amazing. That sense of adventure you get when your adrenaline is flowing and you think you're going to fall, but you're determined to reach the top. That feels like freedom. But that something that's temporary. In general, I wouldn't say that I have freedom right now. I actually feel very restricted. I'm still satisfied with my life right now, and I love that I am able to have the life that I do. However, I want to get out of this small little circle I live in. I want to see the world. I want to have a career where I wake up every morning excited to be doing something that I love. These things just aren't possible at the moment.  Luckily, I am free to reach this goal... I have the resourses, and the learning environment, and the determination to do it.

I'm not free, but I can have freedom. 

~Erin