#06 - Does Absolute Freedom Really Exist?

When I was in secondary school, my topmost priority was to graduate and find my way into university. 

Whenever I slept, ate or drank, that always crossed my mind. Felt like the whole idea was engraved in my heart with some sort of permanent coating. It always echoed as though it was a do or die affair. I thought of it as a liberation of my freedom where I'll be all over everywhere shouting hey you there! I'm finally free!

Oh, yes. Finally free from wearing uniforms. Finally free from daddy and mummy telling me what to do. Finally free from giving excuses (lying) whenever I want to visit that beautiful girl I've been crushing on. Finally free from all a teenager who has never left home to live on his own could ever think of. 

I'm sure these were somewhat your thoughts also. It's normal to think so actually. Normal to have the belief that you're finally going to be free when you get to the promised land.  

It felt really good in my own little imagination. My hopes were high that a wonderful adventure lies ahead. A world of freedom. One that I could do whatever I want and have nothing to worry about. But hey! that was all wishful thinking. There is no such thing as being free. My thoughts of being “free” were nothing but the delusional thoughts of a teenager.

After securing admission and getting into university, I realized the whole freedom thing is utterly fucked. Freedom, despite how sweet it sounds, is just another form of responsibility in various proportions. You'd be thinking you're free only to come to the realization that it comes with a price. Well, yes, it comes with responsibilities. 

Perhaps you think I'm making this up. Perhaps you want to spank me on my head using a frying pan while shouting aggressively saying "you this freaking liar!” 

Wait first, that's me joking. I'm quite sure you aren't going to do that. Truth is, even though you might be quick to be in a flat-out denial with my submission, I want you to think through it. Picture yourself sitting behind a car's steering wheel. In such circumstance, you are free to steer the vehicle in whatever direction you feel like, but then, despite being free to do so, you have to assume responsibility.

You have to be responsible for your safety, the safety of other drivers on the road and also the safety of the people walking on the road. Why?  Because despite been free, you still have a responsibility to do the right thing. And yes, you'd do so except if you want to give the I don't give a flying fuck kind of look and dive straight into your grave—of which I know you wouldn't.

Having the right to freedom of speech as a person also comes with responsibilities. The responsibility of sifting your ideas before dishing them out. In as much as you are free to say all that you want to say, you can't say all that you want to say. You'd have to avoid saying things that'll incite hate and negativity amongst people. Otherwise, you'd end up being accused of hate speech or something else related to that.

That's how “freedom” works. It comes with certain responsibilities. Comes with responsibilities to take due awareness of yourself or even something you never thought of. It could take whatever form—financial responsibilities, moral responsibilities, emotional responsibilities, family responsibilities and all other kinds of responsibilities depending on the situation you find yourself. 

 

The underlying truth remains as it is, the world is an arena of problem sets. One that we'll keep solving and solving until we eventually die. As you think of being free from one particular thing, another different thing is ready to hold up your freedom. 

I guess that's life's way of moulding us and making us more responsible. Life's very own way of drilling us hardcore in order to be ready for our struggles. However, it's not just the responsibilities, it's how we deal with these responsibilities that matters the most. 

So does absolute freedom really exist?

No. It doesn't. There's no such thing as being completely free from anything. You can only be wholly free when you kick the bucket—and yes, probably end up in heaven. But that's if you even believe there's somewhere like heaven. Nevertheless, in my opinion, heaven is the only place you can find ultimate freedom.