Freedom is a funny word

So, we are on the eve of Independence Day weekend. They are reporting record numbers of people who will be traveling this weekend. In fact, I’m currently writing this from an airport lounge in NOLA.

This morning I had an interaction with a friend that I have spent many Independence Days together with in the past. When I asked her about her plans this weekend, she said she didn’t have any because she’s not really free. Clearly, she is referring to the landmark event with SCOTUS last week. And as women and members of the LGBTQ community, we are acutely aware of the implications for many of the rights we have been granted through other landmark SCOTUS cases.

I’m not here to discuss what happened. I’m here to think some more about this idea of being free and freedom. While I too have been distressed by decisions others are making for people without their consent, I have to stop short of making that kind of statement. I am still free. As a black woman, I grew up acutely aware of the difference. At the same time, I must acknowledge that some of what’s going on is a difference in an emotional reaction and a philosophical point of view. While some places are doing everything they can to prevent, block, or curtain behavior they believe is wrong, other places are doing everything they can to let others know that they are allied in the effort to support personal autonomy and choice.

A definition of freedom is - the state of being free: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. liberation from slavery or from the power of another. the boldness of conception or execution.

This is the definition my friend is referring to in their statement. There are definitely several, at least (13) examples of constraint in choice or action. However, there is another definition of freedom for us to consider.

The philosophical definition of freedom is - the ability to act in accordance with the True and the Good

While I can agree that certain “freedoms” have been removed and others appear to be threatened, the actual state of being free, the ability to act in accordance with what’s true and good, is something that can’t be granted by someone else. Freedom from a philosophical point of view means no one can “take” your freedom, because freedom is about your behavior. Read it again, the “ability to act in accordance with the True and the Good.” You, regardless of the behavior and decisions of other people, can always act in accordance with the True and the Good. You can choose to behave according to what you believe is the right way to be.

There’s a photograph that lives in my memory. I can’t find it anywhere. I looked. This particular photograph is burned into my memory because it is an old photograph of black male prisoners. I believe it is in connection to the old prison labor camps. In the photograph, there are 4 - 5 men standing there. Some are looking toward the camera, others are looking away. Then there’s one man, standing in the center of the photograph. His shirt looks less frumpy, with a neckerchief tied on his neck, his hat tilted at a rakish angle, this man is looking directly at the camera. His look is frank, open, and somewhat defiant. To me, he appears to say, “you can lock me up but you can’t take my freedom.” He is my example of the ultimate mastery of freedom mindset.

Freedom mindset, by my definition, is the internal determination of your state of freedom.

~ Here’s The Thing ~

Regardless of how people work to take you down, and force feelings on you, only YOU get to decide how you are going to feel. Will you choose to feel fear? Will you choose to feel defeated? Will you choose to go within and find peace in a place that no one can touch? You can choose not to feel like a victim of circumstance. You can choose to be triumphant in the face of adversity.

When something big changes that you didn’t choose to change, and possibly fought to prevent from changing, only you can decide how you are going to feel about it. Then only you can decide what you will do about it.

I don’t want you to dismiss what I’m saying as some sort of “Pollyanna” thought or as though I’m doing some sort of spiritual bypass. That I somehow don’t understand the magnitude of what has happened. I promise I understand completely. I want you to understand what I’m saying. Only YOU decide how you will feel and what those feelings mean. People can tell you that you don’t matter, that you have no choice in the matter, however, only you can feel as though you don’t.

If you are going to find the strength and courage to change things that you feel need to be changed, you have to give your Authentic Self permission to feel hopeful, to feel strong, and to feel empowered to create change. If you allow yourself to feel defeated, invisible, or afraid, you have taken away your ability to act in accordance with what is True and Good. No one has to do anything else to block you. You’ve put up your own wall of defeat.

You have to believe in yourself and your ability to create change. You have to believe in others. You have to decide that no one can take your freedom. Then you have to work hard to make sure to change what needs to be changed to allow what’s True and Good to shine through.

I believe in you, my friend. I know you have unimagined stores of goodness within you. You are illimitable.

R