Inspire Freedom

Yesterday was July 4th, also known as Independence Day. Last week's post discussed how to inspire peace for the holiday, and I do hope all of you, my dear readers, had a peaceful celebration with your family and friends. I hope you had fun, ate delicious food, watched some fireworks, and also remembered the reason for the holiday--the celebration of our country's freedom.

(photo/pinterest.com)

This leads to the topic for today's blog post: Freedom. How can you inspire freedom in your life? How did you inspire freedom yesterday while you were attending parades, pool parties, barbecues, etc.? What does freedom even mean?

The basic definition explains that freedom is the "quality or state of being free" (Merriam-Webster).

That doesn't really help me. Let's break it down even more. Freedom is the "quality of being frank, open, and bold with a state of being independent" (Merriam-Webster).

That's better. People have the freedom to express their opinions and be honest with their peers without the fear of misjudgment. The United States gained its freedom back in 1776 during the American Revolutionary War, and since then, our country has remained 'free.' Yes, our country has struggled with freedom, but because of the loyal men and women who continuously fight for our country, we are 'free.'

How can you inspire freedom in your life? Can you be open with your friends if you disagree about something? Can you express yourself without the fear of being mocked? Can you encourage others to follow in your footsteps and live peaceful, free lives?

(photo/tumblr.com)

Now, I always like to make my posts relate somewhat to creative writing. If you're a writer and you're reading this post, how can you inspire freedom in your work? When was the last time you experimented in your writing? Freedom is the ability to experiment in your work.



For example, if you're a poet, try something new. Write a rhyming poem. Write a prose poem. Write about a subject you've never dreamed about focusing on in your work. Experiment with the form of your piece. If you tend to write a poem in three quatrains (a stanza that has four lines), change it up a bit. Write a poem in four tercets (a stanza that has three lines). Change up the rhythm and style of your poem. Don't be afraid to experiment with your poetry; you never know if you'll like it until you try it.

If you're a fiction or creative nonfiction writer, do the same thing. Try something new. Write a novella instead of a short story. Write a short story instead of a novel if you tend to write longer pieces of work. Write a 5,000 word essay instead of 2,500. Write a science fiction piece, or a comedy. Write about your family. Write about a memory that scares you. Don't be afraid to experiment, because as I told the poets, you never know if you'll like it until you try it.

You have the freedom to experiment with your work, so use it. Don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid to inspire freedom in your life, for the writers or non-writers reading this post. You have the ability to express your opinion and live your life the way you want, so take it. Encourage others to live free lives, as well. You'll be a happier person once you take a deep breath and, well, live.

Inspire freedom.

-KJL-