“the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” – Emerson.

This country was founded on the concept of individual liberty. It seems we always focus so much more on the liberty part of that statement to the exclusion of the individual part. To achieve true liberty means we must each be an individual; and therefore we must be true to ourselves. To expect the government or corporations to give us jobs pretty much circumvents that concept for many, many people. The jobs they offer provide security, not freedom. I’ve said many times that security and freedom are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The more of one you have, the less of the other you have. “They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” – Benjamin Franklin. So True! In all things, we must not operate from a base of fear. “To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” – Joseph Chilton Pearce

I was reading Mark’s Daily Apple and he mentioned a blog he had written last August which peaked my curiosity so I went and checked it out. I have only read the first couple of paragraphs but it has given me an “aha!” moment; it has given me some clarity on something I need in my life – more playing. My current gig does not allow me to play enough. It doesn’t pay me enough money to even do the things the average schmo does for fun, and I want to do more than what the average schmo does. My job also demands too much of my time – specifically my day time – to allow me to play in the ways I want to, like exploring, hiking, etc. “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers, and divines. With consistency a great soul has nothing to do.” – Emerson. I love to explore; I love the joy of discovery. “When we embrace play, we claim a better quality of life for ourselves. We decrease stress.” – http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-lost-art-of-play-reclaiming-a-primal-tradition/ That concept has been gnawing at me for a good part of my adult life, and it is what inspired my intense dislike of working for the man. It is yet one more motivation to break free from the systems upon which we are so dependent.

“The life of white men is slavery. They are prisoners in towns or farms. The life my people want is a life of freedom. I have seen nothing that a white man has, houses or railways or clothing or food that is as good as the right to move in the open country, and live in our own fashion (Sitting Bull).”