freedom within
finding moments of freedom when life feels like one long to-do list
I recently went on a 10 day trip to three European countries and returned home a little less than two weeks ago. Sitting here reflecting on those days away from the to-do lists of everyday life, I’m reminded of the sense of freedom that we often have while traveling.
For the length of your trip, all that matters is what adventures you’re going to embark on that day, what surprises are hidden around each corner of this new and interesting place. You probably even notice things that you wouldn’t pay attention to in your every day life. The subtle way things may be different than what you’re used to, witnessing small interactions on the street, or the details of the architecture. Everything feels brighter, fresher, and this childlike wonder about the world starts to emerge.
Any thoughts of cleaning the bathroom, answering emails, and the weekly meal plan simply just disappear as if they were never worries in the first place.
It’s a beautiful feeling. To truly feel free to live in the moment and embrace all that’s around you fully. It’s a mindfulness practice.
Yet, you return home and all those to-do’s pile up again. The stressors of everyday life start to creep back in and you’ve all but forgotten that feeling of freedom you had just a few days ago. You start to reflect on your time traveling, maybe with a sigh and a wish to go back.
For me, I know I miss the adventure of it all, being in a new place and seeing things with fresh eyes. But, a big part of what I’m missing is the feeling of being free for a moment. Free of all expectations. Free of the mental chatter about what I need to do next. Freedom to be me, fully, as I am.
The thing is, that freedom isn’t exclusive to travel. I believe that I can bring that with me in my everyday life. There’s a space within us that we can all cultivate that opens the door to feeling more free. It’s when we come back to ourselves, take a simple moment to breathe, and to remember that our freedom can live within us. Our inner world can become a space for freedom, even if the outside world feels heavy and oppressive at times.
When we sit with ourselves, without expectation, as observers to ourselves, we are free. Sometimes, I like to step outside for a moment, feel the sun on my skin, watch the trees rustle in the wind. Be with the stillness of nature. There is nothing you need to do in that moment except to be. To me, that sounds like true freedom.
Then, maybe you go along with your day, remembering that place of freedom within you. Knowing that every task on your list is a choice, every act is deliberate. You are moving out of obligation and into intentionality.
But, as always, life gets busy and your mind becomes overwhelmed again and that’s okay. You suddenly remember, there’s something to go back to. There’s a space within you that holds no concern about the past or the future. A space that you can access at anytime to just breathe and be. Your little sanctuary of freedom.
I close my eyes and remember my breath.
Remember the quiet space within that’s not asking anything of me right now.
In this moment, I am free.
And all over again, I open my eyes to a new adventure.
Updates:
I’ll be posting meditations again soon! Look out for one to be posted by the end of this week.
My goal is to post a newsletter and meditation weekly from now on since summertime is typically a little slower for me and I want to get into a new routine with substack.
Thank you for being here!