Freedom is an Illusion - Recession is Reality

Freedom is an illusion.

Are any of us truly free ?

Of course, its all relative.

Sometimes freedom, or the lack of it, is easy to spot.

The African slaves working the plantations of the Caribbean 250 years ago quite clearly lost their freedom. Snatched from their homelands, shipped in terrible conditions and sold to work for the exclusive benefit of others, they had clearly lost their freedom.

Are we free, here in the UK in 2009?

Of course not. On the sliding scale of freedom, we might be further up the scale than those unfortunate slaves, but how free are we ?

Wherever we go, we are watched by CCTV cameras. We can do whatever we like, providing it meets the needs of others and it doesn't cross the invisible wire fences set by others.

The other day, I heard this announcement over the public address system in a London station:

"This station is monitored by 24 hours CCTV, in the interests of safety management".

Safety Management ?? An Orwellian shudder transversed my shoulders.

RELAX - its for your own safety - we're doing it for your own good (of course, we may also release copies of the film to any official body that needs it !!). How free is that ? watched by faces unseen, in the interests of public safety !

Stress is also the enemy of freedom.

Life is very complex these days.

Everybody wants something from you, everybody wants to impose a deadline.

Rebel, I say - declutter your life.

Feel the warmth of the sun on your face, feel the wind in your hair - soak it up.

I'm sure you've all heard the expression "this is the first day of the rest of your life".

It could also have another line added - "it could also be your last".

Make the most of the simple things in life.

The recession is another tumbler in the lock of the "Revelation" that is the theme of this blog.

The "Towers of Materialism" came crashing down as the recession started to bite.

It was getting out of hand - people were getting greedier and greedier.

The recession may well, force us to take stock of our lifestyles.

Without a doubt, it will ruin many lives, cause people to lose their homes and so on.

NOT FOR ONE MOMENT, am I saying we deserved it or its a good thing, but every cloud has a silver lining.

Perhaps the positive aspect of the recession is that mankind may just learn to appreciate a sunrise, the song of the blackbird or the ripples on the water.

People sometimes ask me if I am happy.

No, says I, happiness is euphoria. Euphoria is fleeting.

I am content - much better and longer lasting than happy. 

A big, smiley cat kind of content..