Freedom

Daily Meditation 494–7/4/2023

Today, on this day which I — an American — am free to do many things others cannot do or could not do, I must ask:

What, really, is “freedom?”

Many might say “the ability to do whatever you want whenever you want!”

But, if you were free to eat McDonald’s every meal every day, is that really freedom?

If you could have sex with anyone or enjoy pornography any time, is that really freedom?

And what about 50 billion dollars and never working another day, is that really freedom?

How about knowing all things, all science, all mathematics and being omniscient, is that really freedom?

In my estimation, freedom isn’t “The ability to do whatever you want whenever you want.”

Freedom is having that ability, but being wise enough to have discernment, discipline, and balance to know moderation. To know that it is in limitations that anything gains meaningfulness.

You don’t feel free if you spend exorbitant amounts eating whatever you want. And you certainly won’t feel free as your body breaks down from all the processed garbage.
Just because you are free to do it doesn’t mean you should.

You don’t feel free when you’re addicted to pornography, unable to enjoy the touch of a real human. And you certainly won’t feel free as you get “mileage” “trying out” hundreds of people.
Just because you are free to do it doesn’t mean you should.

You won’t feel free for long just hangin’ out on a yacht, a beach, or getting drunk or stoned as a billionaire. The wealth will, instead, put you into bondage and invite unwelcome eyes into your every cough, sneeze, and fart.
Just because you are free to do it doesn’t mean you should.

You certainly aren’t free knowing all things, all science, and all mathematics. You’re not omniscient, but thanks to your phone and the internet, you’re as near to it as any human ever has been, yet the deluge of information has made us more empty than ever before.
Just because you are free to do it doesn’t mean you should.

One freedom, abused, will trammel your other freedoms.

So remember, today:
Freedom isn’t in unlimitedness to — as Bam Margera once infamously said: “do whatever the **** I want” — but, instead, is in balance and wisdom.

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These are distillations from my coming book “YouDaimonia: the Ancient Philosophy of Human Flourishing.”