Freedom

The other day, I read a meme that said having money isn’t about money.. it’s about freedom. The last few weeks has definitely shown me that you don’t need money to be free. You can choose to be free and just live that way.

Each July 4th, we celebrate Independence Day and the Declaration of Independence that says…

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—…when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

It’s not just government that tries to infringe on your freedom.  It’s business, peer pressure, media messages about what you should look like or do.  If you are going to pursue your happiness, you have to be willing to disappoint those counting on their ability to control you.  In Serendipity, a character quoted Epictetus saying, “If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.”  You don’t need money to be free.  You just need the courage to choose your own happiness or the happiness of others.

This week, I left a job that failed to bring me happiness at any point.  I’ve noted all this in the past, but to re-repeat.. When I went to the interview for that job, it was pouring rain.  At the interview, the entire government building lost power.  When I left the interview, I had a flat tire.  When I took my car to Pepboys to fix the tire, their lift broke my car door.  Due to waiting a month for my first paycheck, I had to pay bills on credit and fix my car on credit.  A few months into the job, I was accused of harassment by someone for just being friendly.. 5 minute conversations a few times a week… which management said was just a reaction to someone in the past that DID harass her.  I was put in multiple positions and banned from asking past workers how to do the jobs.  I only worked in my hired position alone for 3 weeks of the entire time I worked there.  I had to take medical leave, and when I returned was placed in new positions without training and blamed for things not done while I was on medical leave and asked to take the blame for work in the past of the new positions I was given.  So .. I left.. and gave upper management much feedback to consider.

I also lost access to my daughter… when my ex that has delusions and paranoia and narcissistic behavior said she was going to block my daughter from seeing me and that if I had a problem with it I could sue her, but that she’s be 18 before I would win so it would be moot.  I bring this up, because my RESPONSE would be an example of freedom and lead to more freedom.  Instead of calling the cops on her and calling a lawyer to take custody, I asked my daughter what she would prefer, and she said to let it just be til she’s 18 and can do what she wants.  So.. I gave up my struggle in exchange for peace for me and my child, and my ex will be known for her own choices.. as the parent that blocked a daughter access to a father. 

ALSO.. I only moved to Florida to be with my daughter.. now that I cannot see her, I’m really free to live anywhere, which I will be considering… I may stay, but it also means I can live as free a life as I want.  I could stay in Florida but move further away, so dating others at more of a distance is also an option.  So, all this ended up doing was expanding my potential in all areas of my life.  As I am doing Ubereats deliveries once again, I could literally move anywhere anytime.. once my eye surgeries are done.

So, freedom doesn’t take money.  Freedom can be found in making less money on your own with power over your own schedule, wardrobe, and radio station you play as you drive into your future making your own money.. or however you choose to do it, once you stop letting the judgment of critics dictate your course.