Sunsets and Freedom

When I was on a cruise last week, I spent a lot of time on my balcony looking out on the vast ocean. The waves were noisy and sometimes violent, crashing around, yet I had such a sense of calm. 

Each day the sunsets were more majestic than the last. I couldn’t help but be mesmerized with the colors that were painting the sky. As if they were there to remind me to be grateful for everything beautiful in my life. And each night although I knew the sunset was coming, some of them were still so unexpected and breathtaking.

The last night of the cruise, I got some amazing photos of my daughter, some of both of us and some of just the sun, with its magical exit.

As I was about to stop photographing, a bird flew near my balcony and I captured him soaring through the air. I think he was there to remind me what freedom is.

For many people, being committed to anything is terrifying. Whether it be a job, a mortgage or even a relationship.

As soon as there is the idea of longevity, they want to run. I realized for me, it’s the opposite.

Having a job and/or a family that counts on you, a place to hang your hat or someone who cares enough about you to send you a “good morning beautiful” or “sweet dreams” text, that’s not scary, that’s security and that makes me feel at peace and free.

To know that my presence matters, that’s how I define free. Free to be myself, free to share a meal or a show, free to share feelings, to express love with trust-that’s ultimate freedom.

Every night, without fail, I kiss my kids good night. Every time they leave the house, they know to come say goodbye to me and to expect at least one hug and 2 kisses. Their comings and goings, their resting their heads on their pillows, knowing they are loved, how can that be anything, but a feeling of peace?

Most people have their own version of what it feels like to be free. For a musician, it’s probably getting lost in playing a song. For an artist, painting or sculpting a masterpiece from the heart. For a writer, like me, sometimes it just writes itself.

Life has a funny way of working out sometimes. Often the path we find ourselves on is not the same yellow brick road where we started. The key is when we get to the crossroads of “what do we do next”, to gaze long enough at a sunset or get quiet and listen to your heart.

Only then can you define what or who will make you feel like, “there’s no place like home” and the freedom that comes with that peace.