Who doesn't want freedom?
I agree, it seems to be a weird question, but we all have the same answer, I suppose.
I can bet my favorite brand of chips for this. We will never hear anyone be like "I don't like freedom. Why does it even exist?" Absolutely none.
Right now, I am munching Piattos, my all-time favorite junk foods. I have craved for it since last week, but I moderate my salt intake, as I know it ain't good for my health.
Anyway, going back to the subject, there are absolutely many ways to interpret freedom. Let me share to you one of those, while I enjoy my alone time here in our little home.
What it feels like to be me
My favorite chips are all gone now. I am just drinking a glass of water, to neutralize the salt I put in my body. I started to hear the singing of the crickets from outside, and I just stare at my cellphone, thinking of the right words to write.
Being an introvert, it is sometimes (or most of the times, to be exact,) difficult for me to express myself well. It pisses me off how I can't directly tell someone whenever I felt offended or insulted. Due to this, I find it hard to create a limit on how people should act around me. It's hard to tell people how I really feel because I am just.. not used to expressing it.
Deep inside, I want to be able to do this, too. The ability to say "No" when I don't really want something; the courage to tell people what I do and do not like.
Do you know those moments when people make you do something? Even when you don't really want to do it, ypu would not want to create more drama, so you just agree? Lol, I always relate.
Well, if you don't, I envy you.
I have struggled for many years because of this side of me. I was able to blend unto the world as an ordinary, extra character in this play called life. I got some good friends too, and gradually, I learned some ways to be more expressive, and become more confident.
However, I know I can never go to the level others have attained. Because it is me. I am a person who prefers dealing with things on my own, would rather enjoy my time alone, and only be vocal about how I am feeling when I have to.
I have realized that it is okay and normal to be a person like that. There would still be people who won't consider me "weird" and respect me for who I am. I ain't just the only one who is like this, and it's human. I am still a person, that breathes, that lives, and conquers. No one is superior nor inferior to the other one, and it makes the world more unique and beautiful.
Freedom to be me
I hope I didn't take too much time in brushing my teeth. I am so excited to tell you how I discovered the freedom that I know of. My eyes are getting sleepy, but my mind is still awake and willing to finish this sharing tonight. And so, even I brushed my teeth already, I stood up again, and made myself a cup of a hot chocolate drink. Just some sugar to give me energy for the night.
Let's continue.
Just like magic, writing came to me eventually. Like how a young love gently crept into an innocent girl's heart, writing slowly but surely let me into its world, and now, I have no plans of leaving.
Writing gave me the freedom that I couldn't find in many other things. It made me discover many hidden things about me, and helped me bring out the best in every bit of it.
I didn't imagine I can make myself a strong character that I have always wanted to be, with just the tip of a pen. I can have wings and even fly to other fascinating places, thanks to my imagination, and the pen and paper that help me document it.
You know what is a diary, right? This may sound petty and too childish for others, but it gave me a breath of fresh air. It became my release every end of the day; I openly talked about that day I saw my favorite person, or that moment I got really pissed off by my colleague, even to the times I just cry without any reasons.
Writing helped me release all the pent up emotions I couldn't say through words. Other people have different ways to express themselves. Break something when they're angry, pour their tears on their pillows when they are sad, or talk to a trusted friend when they feel confusedāyou can think of a lot more.
But to me, just some writing materials are enough. After a few hours of filling some pages with various scribbles, I will just feel like a heavy burden has been lifted off my chest, and that feeling is so wonderful. I can't explain it much, but imagine finally letting go of a 50 kg worth of rice from your back, it feels so exhausting yet, gives a sense of relief.
I have never felt this feeling ever, and only writing gave me this. One day, I just realized one thing: Ah, so this is freedom.
When I write, I am able to describe how I feel, and what I want to say in detail, with no filter; and my pen never judges me for it. The paper is like a trusted comrade, all my secrets are safe with him. And if I would want to remember some funny or remarkable moments or days of my life, he will just tell me everything again, in detail.
I want to be someone who can travel to a lot of places, without any worries of the expenses nor people of languages I don't understand.
However, in my story, I am that girl who just enjoys a comfortable life, traveling around the world for fun, getting good memories. In my story, I am somehow a person who knows a lot of languages, and gains lots of friends from different nationalities.
Do you know understand how writing let me become as free as I could? You won't even be surprised if I told you right now that I even became the youngest woman president of my country, in my other story. (Haha!)
Writing and Freedom indeed Co-Exist
I know every introvert out there can very well agree with me on this. We prefer writing than talking. We feel like we could express better with written words than spoken ones.
It gives us ultimate control of what we want to say, without external aspects interrupting our train of thoughts.
As I sip the final drop of my chocolate drink, let me tell you an interesting historical fact that relates writing and freedom.
Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the Philippine National Hero, was known for his novels "Noli Me Tangere" and "El Filibusterismo". Rizal did not save the country by going to a war nor fighting with a sword. But what made him the National Hero?
His works ignited Filipino patriotism. He encouraged Filipino people to revolt against its colonizers by exposing its rotten system through his novels. He did not do anything brutal, nor used violence, but he was able to awaken the hidden desire for freedom by those who read his novels.
Of course he was killed because of this, but his death wasn't in vain, because we, Filipinos, owe a big part of this freedom, to him, along with a lot others.
This is where I insert this wonderful quote we must have heard at least once in our lives: Pen is mightier than the sword.
The time is so fast. I gently washed my cup, so I won't disturb my family members who are asleep right now. It is a calm night, and it has called unto me for a multiple times since nine.
A few more sentences, and I am really sleeping.
This is what freedom is to me.
Pen + Paper = Freedom
Or in short:
Writing = Freedom
I don't have to act like someone I am not when I write. I just woke up, but I want to write? It's okay. I don't have to pretend nor wear my mask on when I am immersed in this activity.
Whatever I think, I just write it down like there is no tomorrow, and let my mind take me to where it wants me to explore.
After all, in writing, there is no limit as who I can be. There is no rules as to how many words I should use. As long as I have my pen and my paper, the real, unedited version of myself, and that's it. I am good.
You, too, can find freedom in writing. Try it now, if you haven't yet. I assure you, you can be free like me. Free as the air that penetrates every single thing as it could, just goes wherever it wants, and will never stop, even if the time might do so.
Hey, friends!
This is what I managed to squeeze from my brain for the past few days of choosing among different ideas about freedom.
I think I have successfully participated to this fun writing challenge by @JonicaBradley . It is a new experience that really made me learn new things. Thank you so much.
A special mention too, for @Bjorn who encouraged me to this challenge. Feel free to join this fun activity and let's see how different people here define freedom personally.
Challenge Rules:
Write about Freedom.
Write 100% original content.
Write at least 600 words.
Tag @JonicaBradley .
Have fun!
Tagging my fellow writers @noisytoothie, @Peter-Molnar, @wakeuplincs, @Princessbusayo , and to all that reads this. You may want to join the challenge too! And please mention me, so I can also read your works. :) If you have joined the challenge already, it's okay, just ignore my tags LOL.
Thanks for reading, until next time!
Come start writing and earning here, if you haven't yet!
I am also active on noise.cash. Same username, let me know and let's talk there!
To God be all the glory.
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Please click pictures for sources. :)
Oh, you participated. I never done that, haha. I just like my freedom of when to write and when to procrastinate.