I had a conversation with my son in which I asked him if he was happy. Without hesitation, he answered, "I'm extremely happy. I am free to do what I want, when I want it. My life is just good." I pondered that answer, and felt some envy at his sense of freedom. I, by contrast, do not feel free. I feel weighed down by "stuff," responsibilities, my job and limited finances. So I put that question to a couple of friends: What is happiness, and what is freedom? The answers came rapidly and authentically: Happiness is the state of accepting what one has with gratitude. Freedom is a bit trickier.
On gratitude, I can easily echo the sentiment. I have, indeed, many, many things to be grateful for, not the least of which is my health, and my living environment which is a sunny locale, warm and comfortable. And once I begin to focus on what I am grateful for, from the most minuscule to the grand, I indeed feel happy and blessed and lucky and proud of myself.
For the record, "I am very, very happy, because I am free - free to do what I do and be as I am. Life is an awesome miracle!" And I feel the weight of responsibilities and limited finances at least as much as you or the next guy/gal. But that has nothing to do with freedom, or the root of my happiness.
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