It's become clear that every place has it's own rhythms. You can fight it, or you can surrender to it, or more often try to balance somewhere in between. Every new place flows like a river and you can step in hold your ground and feel it pushing and flowing around you. Or, relax into it and become part of the flow. If you step in and hold your ground, perhaps after many years you become part of the flow like the banks of the river or large boulders mid-stream. But early on, in the beginning, you are like a chair carelessly left in the middle of a hallway. Or better yet, a squirrel in the middle of the road. Maybe close to where you should be, but definitely not in the best place for you right now. Traveling with other people tends to exacerbate the situation. Particularly if you care at all for their comfort and well being. It is almost impossible to get in to a rhythm quickly if at all. Perhaps after many trips or years together it is easier, but I doubt it. Someone will always be waiting, pushing or pulling their ideas and agenda. As a US Citizen I have always thought of Freedom in respect to politics, government, and the legal system. Maybe that is capital "F" freedom. Small "f" freedom might be your personal life day to day freedom. The ability to rise and leave when you want, to eat when and where you like. To sit alone or be alone as needed. To sleep as needed, etc. Perhaps, that should be the capital "F" freedom. For I am quite sure that for most of the world, the ability to move somewhat freely about a country and the world is less mentally beneficial than the freedom to live minute by minute and hour by hour as one wishes. While some may think it to be a gross exaggeration on my part, I will say that I can understand one persons feeling of being imprisoned while seemingly being in paradise, while another soars with freedom while living in what most would consider poverty, squalor, or at best spartan conditions.
I am sure that some would say that it is just a case of having a better attitude about your situation. Perhaps adjust your sails. I am sure that as a coping mechanisms that may be true or useful, but the fact remains that one is adjusting for something. At what percentage of adjustment is one no longer living their life? Are prison inmates living their lives? Are people in the midst of a Civil war living their lives? Are people deep in debt and going to jobs they hate everyday living their lives? Or are they surviving, maintaining, treading water and dreaming of the time when....
I think this is the type of idea or thought that is best dealt with in writing or alone. I am sure, because I have seen it happen, that if this idea of personal freedom is raised in a group of friends or family that someone will be telling some else how they are too sensitive, or are exaggerating the issue and that they should be grateful for the great house and car and family and job they have. Either because, I am inclined to believe, they are invested in believing that themselves or because they are part of someone's cage.
What do you think?
