TODAY’S CHALLENGE: Write a response blog post to this question:

What’s your definition of freedom in business and adventure in life?

Writer Unchained.

Freedom in Business

What does it mean to be unchained?

 

It means that my business (and my life for that matter) is not held back by societal expectations or roles. I can run my business however, wherever, and whenever I want. I don’t have to punch a time clock or wake up to an annoying alarm.

I’m not defined by the amount of money I make or what I own. I’m not judged by the color of my skin or my gender. All of these things mean freedom to me both in business and life. When I can get to where I can fully express myself creatively and pursue my passions without expectation or criticism, which will mean total freedom to me.

Freedom is not anything involving the acronym YOLO. Activities attaching themselves to the You Only Live Once philosophy generally are an excuse to achieve personal gain at someone else's expense and/or to self-destructive ends.True freedom seeks bringing out the  best of humanity. True freedom pursues expansion of potential and transforms horns into halos.

Adventure in Life

As early as I can remember, I had an overwhelming desire to explore. No restraint could hold me back, not even a chain-linked fence. Before my parents knew it, I would be crawling across heavy-trafficked roads or playing with windmills in an unsuspecting neighbor’s yard. I wanted to see everything and figure out how it worked. I was never happy to stay within my confined space. I had to know what was out there and I didn’t want to miss a thing.

At school, I hated the labels that defined the various cliques: jocks, nerds, stoners, loners. I never did fit in to any particular group and never wanted to. If you were to put any label on me at that time or even now, it would probably be rebel. I was always determined to stand out from the crowd and determined that no one should be shunned or excluded for any reason. There’s no excuse.

I never did like being told what to do or how to do it. (Still don’t-just ask my husband.) I don’t even like being bound to a specific place. Don’t get me wrong; I have unwavering loyalty to my hometown near Chicago, Illinois. Always will. But I don’t want to be forced to stay there indefinitely.

Currently, I live in Michigan. And I have hated every moment of it except the times I’ve spent with husband and family. Already the snow is making its appearance here. Every ounce of my body wants to pounce. I want to go somewhere warm, somewhere I have never been, anywhere from here.

But we have to stay here at least four more years. My youngest step-daughter just started high school this year and until she graduates; we cannot leave. It’s driving me crazy. I eagerly await the day that my husband and I can take off and begin our exploration of those mythical monsters and medieval castles I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post.

The biggest adventure in life is for me to break free of my own chains. To be free from the inner critic and self-imposed limitations that hold me back from achieving what I want most out of life. For the first time in my life, I am boldly breaking down those barriers and am more proud of myself than I have ever been. And I am helping others to do the same. I truly am becoming….

Writer Unchained

 

What chains are you breaking in your life? Share in the comments below.