“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller.

Week 8, 26 July 2019.

I have not found the elixir for financial freedom as yet, but in my quest for liberation, I have uncovered so many other treasures which I have taken for granted. I am exploring other realms of emancipation beyond material wealth and uncovering forgotten strengths and finding new means for self-determination.

I am an observer of life, of people, nature, the elements. I think and wonder a lot; I love ideas, knowledge, seeing others and myself learning from mistakes, I love opportunity and thinking creatively when something looks like it might fail. I love being resourceful and using whatever is at hand and is within my means and I often test my range for problem solving by stretching my imagination. In my search for freedom, I do not want to lose sight of being grateful for what I already have, to pine for what I have lost, or worry for what I may never have. I want to be open to happiness and to create that happiness for myself by just being content. To me, freedom is more and more shaping up to be as simple as having gratitude.

I know exactly what freedom is not: it is not being angry, frustrated, sorrowful, demanding, impatient, fearful, selfish, self-righteous, narcissistic, or having a victim mentality, these are not traits of someone who has freedom. I am sure we all know someone who may appear to have it all materially; they have a great job, lots of toys, financial freedom to travel and splurge, but they still have some of these destructive and socially isolating behaviours which enslave them to disharmony and makes them difficult to be around. Maybe we are all guilty of feeling any or all of these destructive and pointless attributes at some time, it would be in our best interest to make a change.  These are all just feelings which can mostly be conquered with the right mindset and strength of will, and there are hundreds of avenues to overcome them if one looks hard enough for help.

I am beginning to formulate that to see true mindful liberation and serenity in a person, it will look like this: being calm and good-humoured, contented, light-hearted, accommodating, patient, courageous and accepting, humble, charitable and resilient. Maybe I am on to something.

Cheers, Gabe.