Freedom

What exactly is freedom? Everyone seems to have a different idea of what it is.  Some people think it is being able to do whatever you want, whenever you want.  "I do what I want!"  It's the ability to have protection over your own property.  It's the right to say what you think and feel without being arrested for it. It's the safety of practicing whatever religion you want to.  The list goes on.  Today I had a thought though, when a friend of mine was sued for something he is innocent of.  The story was greatly exaggerated in order to make it sound like a problem in the first place.  This is the second time these people have sued him for the same thing.  He is a college student who is working and going to school.  He is not made of money.  He is getting married later this month though, and faces a $10,000 charge for something he is not guilty of.  But hey!  The guy who is suing him has every right to sue my friend, yes?  Who cares that he is a chiropractor with plenty of income.  He has the freedom to sue an innocent college student for the cost of living probably for over a year.

And this is what got me thinking about what really gives someone freedom, and that is responsibility.  If people would simply take blame when they were in the wrong and deal with problems accordingly, they would truly be free.  Sure, we have rights surrounding our property, but we often hear about vandalizing or destruction of each others property.  We sure as heck are allowed to say what we are thinking and feeling without being arrested, but people are attacked for expressing themselves.  We can practice the religion of our choice, but people persecute each other for having different beliefs.  Is that true freedom?  I don't think so.  People need to be responsible.  They have to think more about the consequences of their actions.  They have to realize that freedoms are a privilege, not something everyone is entitled to.  If everyone in the world simply took responsibility, there would be so many less problems in it.

Irony

I clean a walk-in clinic after it closes during the week.  I have a routine down to make sure I don't forget anything and get it done quickly.  Last night I wasn't feeling all that great, and I wasn't happy to be cleaning.  Don't get me wrong, I love the job.  I can go to work in my pajamas if I wanted.  I listen to music, and if I need to I can answer my phone.  I don't have to deal with cranky customers.  When I was getting near the end of my routine last night a song from the movie "Enchanted" came on.  It's the one called "Happy Working Song" that Giselle sings while she cleans her rescuer's apartment.  I started imagining myself cleaning Giselle-style.  If only I could just sing and have rats, birds, and bugs come do my work for me.  Perhaps, it would be slightly creepy, but pretty awesome at the same time.

Fish That Nibble Your Toes

This weekend I went to a river with a group of friends to go swimming.  It's nearly into the 90's everyday now, so we are practically melting.  The water wasn't even very cold, considering it was a river.  Hundreds of little fish infest it.  You can see them swimming around in the shallow water at the bank.  Kalyn and I had been there the day before, so we showed our friends that if you stand still for a minute about thigh-deep in the water, the fish come start nibbling at your feet.  It tickles a little bit and feels pretty strange when you aren't used to it, but they are harmless.  My friend, Meesh, made a noise between a squeal and a screech when they came up to her, because it took her by surprise.  She ended up sitting in the water for a long time, though, letting them nibble away. I think they fascinated her.  Me and Kalyn will probably go there almost every day now that it's hot.  I love the sound of the water.  I have to work on skipping rocks anyways.  It's not a skill I have mastered yet.