Don't Be Scared to be Free

The concept of freedom has many faces, depending on who you are and where you live. In recent months we have seen country after country in the Middle East and Northern Africa run after freedom like a bull charging a matador's red cape. Their mission has been a loud, fantastic expression of what has been there for some time, a bubbling over of disappointment and rage, and hopes and dreams for freedom and a brighter future.

Even if we are not fighting for political freedoms, we are all the same in that we crave freedom. Freedom from what? It depends, but generally it's freedom from anything that holds us, preventing us from living an authentic life- freedom from a dead-end job, or from a relationship that has run its course and ceases to work. Maybe it's freedom to do something only dreamed of before, such as travel or education. Probably one of the most dabilitating fears is the fear to be free. We're scared to change, afraid of the unknown, frightened of what people may think of us, scared of making a wrong decision, and we don't want to hurt anyone at the expense of our choices.

However, unless we are willing to roll over and accept life's consolation prize, freedom must be sought, it must be fought for. We all deserve to live the lives we were called to live. We are responsible for our own happiness.

I was inspired to write this blog after listening to the words of the song "Letting Go" by Sean Kingston (I know, not a place you would expect to find inspiration). If you can look past the literal translation of the words (remember, we are talking Sean Kingston here), they are quite beautiful - "What if you would just come right out of these clothes? You can finally feel the wind when it blows. Don't be scared to be free, to let go." Whatever "clothes" we wear to hide who we really are, or what we really want out of this life, it's time to take them off, feel the wind and let go. Don't be scared to be free.