Freedom

What is freedom? The ability to do as we wish? If so, we have only moments of temporary freedom, like a leash tied around a dogs neck. As long as the rope is free of tension, we are free- free to do what we wish like in that small little circle. Once that rope is tight, there is nothing to do about it but submit and find solace in our momentary freedom. This freedom is most definitely not an illusion, it exists and is true, but it is has a range. It cannot extend beyond that and when this freedom ends, we are frustrated.

Whatever we do, we are all tied down. Tied down by our past, tied down by the expectations of others about our future and by our helplessness in our present. When we are young, we fulfil our parent's wishes, we go to a school then a college and get a degree- all this decided by our parents or our economic condition. We then enter into a job, start a family and we need to support the family and sustain the family. When are we ever free in this world? Only when we are unconscious, before have begun to walk and talk- it might seem a contradiction since babies cannot move and cannot express themselves. But their smile must tell you they are happy.

We are tied down by commitments to family and work, we have social obligations, favours to do since they have done favours for us a- quid pro quo. Deadlines must be met, assignments must be completed, exams to be written and we forget ever asking ourselves what we are doing to ourselves, this world and what the hell we are doing with our lives. When we ask that question, it is an uncomfortable feeling for it is not in the answer that discomfort lies, but we ask why we have not asked ourselves this question before and the answer to the question is still elusive. We are living a life that has been either advised to us, told to us and ignorantly and complacently accepted or forced down upon us.

Is there any freedom in this? We are all prisoners of our past, expectations about the future and helplessness in our present. Can we leave this world behind us and move into another realm? Can we escape this life and go into the uncertain? It would require immense courage and perhaps most importantly recklessness beyond compare and even bordering on the insane.