On Freedom and Independence

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In October my thoughts always swing back to the concept of freedom. Probably because this is the month when my country got independence. So, as a person, I think a lot about independence and freedom.

Definitely, I can tell you that what freedom used to mean to me has changed. As a mum of 4, a few days by myself is a lot of freedom. Freedom is a full night’s sleep without interruption.

Does that translate to independence though? I really don’t know.

What Does Independence Mean to You?

However, I think it does go beyond that. As an adult, it’s easy to wonder when independence is ever going to come. We are sold this concept of independence when we’re kids and it doesn’t take long to discover that it’s all a scam. Of sorts.

So, you’re stuck in this place where you’re thinking… When are you going to become independent of those bills? When are you going to become independent of that controlling spouse?

Most importantly, when are you going to become independent of the voices in your head?

You know the voices, right? Those persistent, nagging, irritating but hard to ignore voices that put you down. The voices that slowly, but gradually strip you of your confidence. They tell you that you’re not Enough. That you can’t do it…whatever it is you want to do.

You can’t travel.

You can never go back to school.

You can’t get financially independent.

You can’t find happiness by yourself.

You can’t… you can’t!

That’s the constant refrain inside your head. And you wonder, when will freedom come? When will you get true independence?

I know I wonder.

No matter how hard I try, I am unable to completely silence those voices. So, I’ve decided to listen to them. I listen to them when they tell me, Sharon, you can’t…

And then, I nod my head and say to myself, Girl, you WILL.

I will.

And you will too

When those voices start their nagging, I want you to listen to them and then nod your head in acceptance. Then take a deep breath, taking it all in and then let it all out in one big swoosh.

And then tell yourself that YOU WILL.

Say, Self, I don’t know when or how, but I will.

I will travel.

I will go back to school.

I will get financially independent.

I will find happiness by myself.

I will!

It’s not going to be easy, I can tell you that right now. There are going to be obstacles, challenges. The depression will hit and it will be messy. But you know what? I read something once and it was by Martin Luther King Jr.

If you can’t fly then run,
If you can’t run then walk,
If you can’t walk then crawl,
But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.

Martin Luther King Jr.

And, I’ll say the same thing to you that I say to myself every single day. It is hard, but you can’t give up. Even if all you can do is 30 minutes, do it. It’s better than not doing anything at all.

October on Coral is about Freedom and Independence

So, this October we will be focusing a lot on freedom and Independence. But this is going to be about self-independence. Or in the words of Robert Marley, emancipation from mental slavery.

Read more about the direction we’re going with Coral Lifestyle

Pick one thing you want to do something about…just ONE thing. It could be…

• Education
• Business
• an idea
• writing a story
• travel (don’t forget to take a rain jacket)
• emigrating
• ONE THING

And commit to that one thing. It is time to break free of the chains that have been restricting your progress. Those voices, we are going to silence them, one at a time. With each progress you make, they will go silent.

So, join us on Coral this October as we explore and help each other regain our personal freedom!