Say Yes to Freedom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year from Living in Courage!

“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” -Thucydides

I wanted to share a bit of my year in 2011 with you, and to tell you that I am very excited to walk into 2012 with the gifts and lessons of 2011 under my belt. Here goes!

Wonderful lessons occurred in many areas of my life, and truth be told, some frustration and challenges.  These are things that are important for personal growth and change, so I remind myself that living from the inside out, as well as living in courage is my best way forward. I am learning to be more patient and embrace stillness, to commune with nature daily, to embrace my writing heart to pen, and to always enjoy the chapters of my life.  I have an amazing husband, family and friends that I am ever grateful for.  Better said, I am grateful for all that is here and all that is yet to come. My personal freedom is of utmost importance to me, and that freedom means living my best life from a place of love, wisdom and joy.  I am grateful for you and your support of Living in Courage.  I wish you a very Happy New Year in 2012!

Wouldn’t it be great to see everyone living the dream of freedom? Free will gives us the power of choice, and I like to think that true freedom lives within, as do all the great qualities of love.  When we make the choice to live from the inside out versus the outside in, our lives can transform.  We each have to find our own place in a complex world, but what a wonderful world we have to play and create in! Freedom from the ties that bind, whether physically, mentally or spiritually is a task worth pursuing with gusto. The importance of your personal freedom will determine your course of action. I can’t tell you what that course is, only you know what is right for you. I feel freedom is our birthright, and one that goes beyond our limited thinking feeling reality.  We can feel limited when we think our freedom is in jeopardy.  There are many forms of freedom. What does freedom mean to you? We can bring a sharper focus and more clarity to our sense of freedom when we understand that we are solely responsible for our life by the choices we make and the actions we take.

The voice of freedom is knocking.  We can all make a difference in 2012 by making  choices that reflect love, wisdom and joy.  We have a collective choice to change or not to change, to grow and expand, or to contact, which restricts life, and who wants that?  Freedom of choice is a gift to be treasured, so in conclusion, be a good person, be harmless to yourself and others. Respect the freedom of everyone, no matter the cultural differences. We are more alike than different. After all, if we expect to engage and enjoy our freedom by living from the inside out, that takes responsibility. In that way we can each be responsible for our own inner freedom.  The one that really matters!

Let Freedom Ring in 2012 and Beyond!
Debra Oakland