Freedom Isn’t Free

By Virginia Beck

Photo by Barbara Bennett

Freedom is not an easy thing to learn. It is like the air, a privilege we take for granted until some medical issue, allergies, infections or a long history of tobacco and vaping finally tally up your tab and asks you to pay up.

Freedom for one may be prison for another. Many youth dream of leaving the rock for the bright lights and the big cities. And Vegas is another dream destination for many local folk.

Many younger people, recently moved residents and visitors believe they total freedom of living here. Freedom has a price. Paid for by others.

We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before. Those who almost broke themselves to lift us to a better life. It doesn’t matter how long you have lived here, we are all newcomers to this day. This life. The one we take for granted. Like it is our privilege.

Our parents and grandparents sacrificed, and toiled, and were frugal with us, even as we complained and begged for toys, clothes and whatever desire flamed across our imagination.

They taught us the values of experience, knowledge, education, crafts and skills, and frugally reusing and repurposing items. They were not the throwaway generations.

My mother carefully unwrapped wrapping paper of all kinds and folded it to use again. All items had to be shipped in, back when shipping was very expensive.

We slept tired sleeps on futons on the floor, happy to at least have a family home that we thought was perfect; a roof, running water, secure, though we never had to lock the door. That was freedom.

Kids were kicked out of the house to do something useful, chores (we complained about that for a while) or running about shouting, shrieking and doing small kid mischief in whatever way we could.

Building forts of branches, finding things to toss back and forth, and collecting “dumb stuff” like bottle caps. Freedom, was getting out from Mama’s eye. Or Auntie’s, etc.

Freedom always seems easy until you hit some imaginary wall. Could be social rules, written or unwritten. You know, the ones your parents invoke by giving you the “stink eye” without saying a word. You do too, know what they mean. “When you get home, I’m going to … !”

When the shipping strikes come, and you can’t get what you want. When Costco and Walmart run out of basic needs. When you are restricted from private property. When you trespass on other’s property or rights.

All of a sudden, you know what freedom is. Freedom is your right to your own unique expression of who you are, not a blank permission slip to violate the freedom of others.

Virginia Beck

“Oh, it doesn’t matter. Just this once. I am only going in for a few minutes. Why can’t I just do what I want? I don’t care. I am going to do it anyway.”

Mama would say, “You are being intellectually dishonest. You can lie to other people, but don’t lie to yourself. You do too know what is right. If you have to ask yourself if it is okay, you already know the answer is ‘NOT.’”

Aloha means respect for each other and ourselves. We are too good to be less than we are.

• Virginia Beck, NP and Certified Trager® Practitioner, offers Wellness Consultation, Trager Psychophysical Integration and teaches Malama Birth Training classes. She can be reached at 635-5618.