In a world riddled with red tape, how does one express their freedom? After you remove your rose coloured glasses to find yourself bound by the shackles of society, you begin to wonder if you actually have any freedom left at all. Or at least I do...
That's right! Mrs. Canadian Renegade is back again to answer another freedom challenge question.
After @sagescrub's last two #freedomchallenge's, I found this question, well, challenging.
Do I actually have any freedoms left? And if I do, how do I express them?
So, while I was pacing the house to get a baby to sleep tonight, I started to deeply contemplate this question. I mean, what else was there to do? Plus, this was a really good question and it made me dig deep within myself to find an answer. Surely, there must be a way to express the freedoms I still possess. And there is!
I express my freedom by surrounding myself with people who respect my choices.
Photo by Helena Lopes on UnsplashI am a social butterfly after all...
The mister and I often talk about how intrusive the government can be in our lives. They've inserted themselves like an overbearing parent that we just can't seem to shake. They restrict our finances with ever-increasing taxes, they restrict our food by inhibiting local growers and limiting options at the grocery store, they restrict our living conditions by burying us in mounds of unnecessary paper work, and the list goes on.
So, how exactly, are we to circumvent all of these restrictions? I believe we draw strength in numbers, therefore, I gravitate to those who hold the same beliefs I do. By building my network of freedom fighters I feel more at liberty to express my freedoms.
I Befriend Farmers
Photo by Elaine Casap on UnsplashWhen my access to certain foods are restricted from the grocery store, and I am unable to produce it myself, I befriend farmers. These down-to-earth, local growers know good food. Over the years, traditional foods have become removed from store shelves and as the generations that came before us disappear so to does the knowledge of these foods.
They become replaced with over-processed, nutrient-deficient alternatives, and many consumers are none the wiser. There are a select few though, who know the value of home-grown and traditionally-made foods, and they're willing to share but only if you're in their inner circle.
I Lean on Mothers
Moms are wonderful people, and I am not just saying that because I joined the ranks a mere 8 months ago either. The mothers in my life are some of the biggest cheerleaders I know. The moms I surround myself with, respect my choices to breastfeed, boost my children's immune systems naturally, homeschool, and parent with love. Not only do they offer me unwavering support, they also lift me up in times of need and turn to me in their own time of need as well.
While I did find plenty of support groups on F-Book, I was glad to remove myself from that community because I often felt incredibly judged, even by the moms who proudly labeled themselves as crunchy. They really should ought to have included an asterisk next to that title, because it came with a long list of exceptions. I found myself having to censor myself on a regular basis or risk being attacked for my positions.
While these actions may seem simple to some, the truth is, that the overbearing "parents" I was talking about earlier prefer having dependents. Masses of them. The government doesn't exactly support people raising wild and free children, who are strong, healthy, and can think for themselves because then their position becomes threatened.
I Encourage Family and Friends to Keep an Open Mind
Photo by Lesly Juarez on UnsplashI'm stubborn, and those closest to me can attest to that fact. When I set my mind on something I have been known to become bull-headed about my position. I've since grown to embrace the you-do-you mentality because it helps me keep an open-mind and encourages others to do the same. Even if I've taken a strong position at one time or another, that doesn't mean I am not allowed to change my mind if new information is brought to light. We pave our lives with possibilities when we allow ourselves to be flexible.
I Married a Free-Thinking Gardener
Sure, we've come a long way from patriarchy but we also still have a long way to go. Women can often feel pressured into certain roles, whether that's house wife, stay-at-home-mom, working-woman, working-mom, etc... Truthfully, I used to keep my guard up, ready to defend my position at a moments notice because I become so used to being told who to be and how to act. Even if I didn't know what I wanted yet, I knew I wanted to be the one to decide.
I am so happy that Matthew came into my life because not only does he push me to be my best self, he also supports all of my decisions. Whether I want to stay home with the kids, or find a way to keep working to exercise my brain, I can always count on him to be on my side.
As an added bonus, he keeps me well fed and plans to continue doing so. He's always advocated self-reliance which includes keeping yourself fed. I remember when we were first dating he would bring me fresh eggs from his chickens. I actually felt like he was courting me and it was so romantic. He's an excellent grower with a long list of plants-to-try on his long list of things-to-do.
He also encourages me to learn more about gardening too which is great because after my bean failed to emerge from it's Styrofoam cup in grade one I was convinced my thumb was actually black. So long as Matthew is around, I know I will never go hungry.
Being around like-minded individuals serves as a reminder of all the freedoms we have in our lives. While there are times where we might find ourselves hindered by others there is nothing stopping us from rising up and fighting for our rights as individuals and as societies.
Interacting on Steemit has been a constant reminder that those of like-mind exist and continue to grow each and every day. I truly feel like I am part of a budding community who are there to encourage and teach one another. The fact that we are connected globally is significant because it melts our blinders away so we can see other possibilities in action.
Freedom still exists in my life, even if I have to get a little introspective to find it. After all, we are the most free when we can be ourselves.