#personalfreedom

[eric-sadahire]

You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, burning bushes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?

[ulkaralakbarova]

TIFF 2024: 'Paying for It': Exploring Love Without Limits

Still from Paying for It ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5. It’s rare for two people to remain such close friends after a breakup, but Paying for It captures this unique and touching dynamic beautifully. The film, based on Chester Brown’s autobiographical 2011 graphic novel, tells the story of a man who decides to pursue sexual relationships without any emotional strings attached or expectations for a…

[tmarshconnors]

Let's not be oblivious

As I sit here listening to my chakra music, I feel a profound sense of calm. The gentle vibrations align with my inner energy, helping me centre myself in a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming. While this music brings peace to my mind, it also sparks a deeper reflection on the world we live in. A world where, every day, people fight for freedom, justice, and equality.

This feeling of being trapped is eerily reminiscent of a line from The Matrix: "Billions of people living out their lives... oblivious." Oblivious? But to what? You might ask.

Well, for those of us who have been paying attention, it's clear that something fundamental has changed in our society, especially in the United Kingdom.

So, are we oblivious? Perhaps some of us are. Perhaps some of us are content to go through life without questioning the systems around us, without wondering why certain ideas are deemed acceptable while others are shunned.

But for those of us who are paying attention, it's hard to ignore the creeping sense of restriction that now governs our speech and our thoughts. Freedom of speech. We often hear about it, celebrate it, and even defend it.

But do we still truly have it? Increasingly, it seems that expressing an opinion—especially one that doesn't fit neatly within the boundaries of mainstream ideology has become a perilous act.

No, I'm not talking about hate speech or incitement to violence. I'm referring to honest, open dialogue something that should be the bedrock of any democratic society. Take offence, for example. It's a natural part of human interaction.

We say things, we hear things, and sometimes those things don't sit right with us. When did we become so fragile, so easily wounded by words? I firmly believe, and always will, that being offended is a choice.

We can choose to be hurt by what someone says, or we can choose to engage in conversation, to challenge ideas, and to grow from the exchange. It seems we've reached a point where the mere act of disagreeing with someone can be seen as an attack on their very identity.

Pronouns, for instance—something as simple as getting them wrong can lead to an uproar. I understand the importance of respecting others and acknowledging their experiences etc, but is this really where we are now?

Have we become so thin-skinned that a misstep in language warrants outrage? It wasn’t that long ago that good men and women fought in wars to protect us from the onslaught of Communism and Nazism. I can say will all sincerity none and I mean NONE of them ever bothered to care about if they “hurt” someone's feelings.

The problem, I believe, runs deeper than just pronouns or debates about identity. (I am purely using that as an example) It's about control. In the name of protecting feelings, we've created an environment where expressing an opinion can feel dangerous. Where being honest can get you cancelled/silenced.

I will NEVER be silenced for my opinions or my right to speak. This isn't freedom. It's the opposite. It's a form of social policing that stifles creativity, humour, and genuine human connection.

We're living in a world where people are terrified of saying the wrong thing, not because they're hateful, but because they don't want to be labelled as such. And this fear? It's a powerful tool in the hands of those who seek to control the narrative.

The question is, what do we do about it? Do we continue to live in fear of offending others, walking on eggshells to avoid conflict? Or do we take a stand for the freedom to speak our minds, even if it means ruffling a few feathers along the way? For me, the answer is clear. We need to embrace discomfort.

We need to welcome difficult conversations. We need to reclaim the right to speak freely, to be wrong, to learn, and to grow. Because without that, we're just living in oblivion—billions of us, trapped in a world where silence is safer than truth. As I continue to listen to my chakra music, I can't help but feel that balance is the key.

Not just in our personal lives, but in society as a whole. We need to find the middle ground where respect and free speech can coexist. Where we can honour each other's experiences without sacrificing the right to express our own. The fight for freedom, justice, and equality isn't over. But it's not just about legal battles or protests in the streets.

It's about the everyday choices we make to stand up for our right to speak, to listen, and to live authentically—even when it's uncomfortable.

Let's not be oblivious. I find hope in resistance. In pushing back against a world that wants to box me in. In refusing to apologise for my speech or anything else I do. I see strength in the people who have come before me, who fought to be seen and heard, who shattered barriers and defied expectations.

As Ferruccio Lamborghini once said, “We only lose when we give up.”

[theloulouge]

Life Lens - Entry 173

Burning Bridges I’ve always been pretty indifferent about burning bridges. If a connection or relationship isn’t working out, I don’t feel the need to keep things cordial just to avoid drama or maintain appearances. To me, it’s more important to protect my peace and move forward. There are billions of people out there, and I believe I can find new and genuine relationships without holding on to…

[caesarandthecity]

Dear Sister

How is your family? What is your relationship like with your parents, siblings, uncles, and aunts? Tell me what it's like because I don't know, I don't have one, and today I choose not to have one.

After six years living alone here in North America, I found out that my sister, her husband, and two kids are moving to the United States. We started talking again instantly, as if it were the old days. I brought back many memories from our childhood, many of which she doesn't remember, or to her, they were so simple that they didn't mean much. At first, during the first few days, everything was magical, beautiful, and pleasant, full of love, tears, and laughter. It seemed like we would be happy as a united family. Wow, I really believed it was beautiful. Everything seemed perfect, but other childhood memories also returned.

I remembered all the times my sister left me behind when she had something better to do, even when I had canceled my plans at her request. All the times I worried about doing something or giving a birthday present, while on my birthday, there was never that concern. I remember all the times I thought she was my friend and confided in her, only for her to tell her mother, who then confronted me. Or the times she hit me for reading her diary, but supported her mother and read mine.

I remember the time she, for no reason, claimed I went to her husband's store and stole products. But when her mother saw that I wasn't carrying anything when I got home, she explained that it didn't make sense. My sister then said I must have stopped in a favela and sold the products. To this day, I can't understand human malice. I understand and accept that no one is perfect, but I don't accept people inventing things about me. What's the point of that?

It hurts, my sister, but I remember all the times your mother and father made me sleep outside the house. I cried, knocking on your window for you or your sister to let me in so I could sleep inside instead of in the cold yard, but you told me to shut up because you wanted to sleep. And didn't I want to sleep too, my sister?

I remember the times you took advantage of my kindness to the point where your mother made fun of me. The person who should have protected and loved me made fun of how I forgave you even when you hurt me too much.

My sister began to show who she really is little by little. First, in all the photos she sent where her house was a complete mess. At first, she would say "don't mind the mess," but soon she assumed I would get used to the mess and stopped saying anything. But, dear sister, I am not used to the mess and find it strange. It's strange to me. Her house is dirty, messy, things out of place, the walls are black with mold, and the text message I receive most from her in the late afternoon is saying that she was sleeping. She sleeps every afternoon, regardless of the mess in the house.

I kept observing, even though they were saying I should go and everything inside me was showing that I should go to Orlando. But today, I know that having contact with my sister will not be the best thing. Their true intentions begin to show slowly: living together and splitting rent. I am alone and don't have to pay anyone's rent but mine, doing everything in my name. My sister started showing narcissistic traits, just like her mother, and it’s not strange, given that she was raised by Isabel. She constantly manipulates her husband, decides everything, and prevents him from doing anything. I just observed.

She questioned my decision not to eat rice and beans anymore, saying that I would eat them again. She said that living together, I wouldn’t need therapy anymore. How can someone think they have the right to decide something about the life of a person they haven’t seen in six years, believing that their choices are better than the other’s, and that the other’s life experiences and preferences don’t count? What counts are the choices she wants to make in others' lives. She seems like... my adoptive mother, her mother. Like mother, like daughter.

The idea I have of family, of siblings, of father and mother, is completely wrong and unfounded in reality. Shaped by the image created by television, I lived in a huge dissociation because I never managed to have or live what they sold as the idea of a happy family. Every time I went to a friend's house and saw their relationship with their parents, the love they received and gave, and their relationship with siblings, it became clearer to me that there was no love in my house and that I was the problem. I confess that from a very young age, I always judged my friends with loving parents. I always believed that these friends never appreciated their parents enough. In my child's mind, I thought that if my parents did what my friends' parents did, I would love them even more, I would thank them all the time, I would remind them of how happy I was to be loved that way. And I would remind them that they were the best parents in the world. All this happened in my childish mind because inside me, I was just looking for love, looking for a family. And this search made me look for brothers and sisters around the world, intensely loving strangers, calling fake people friends and siblings, but I never received love in return. I was used and discarded. Maybe I searched wrong, so I started looking for a mother and a father. It took me a while to understand that I would also never find someone who loved me like a son.

The greatest and most intense pain that an orphan carries is the pain of looking for their family in others and never finding it.

I lived an immense pain, looking for love in my own family until I discovered they were not my family, and that’s why there was no love. But I never gave up. I looked for it first in a marriage and couldn’t find it, looked for love in other families, calling them mine, and it never happened either. The worst feeling, without a doubt, is giving love and not seeing it returned. I swear, it’s the worst thing in life. Seeing with my own eyes someone showing through actions that they don’t love me, but with words, yes.

My sister tried to get close. The first few weeks were beautiful, a beautiful story to be told and remembered. But in truth, in reality, there was more pain than love, more hurt, more denial, more invalidation, more misunderstanding than love. There was a lot of lying, a lot of use and reuse, there was never love.

In all of this, my mind was racing, and as always, I didn’t understand much about how to deal with it. And I decided for myself, I decided to follow my plans, to go alone. Dear sister, all the pain you caused became a memory, it doesn’t hurt anymore, it just makes me understand better everything I went through and suffered in the past. Yes, my inner child still cries because, for him, the perfect family still exists, the love my inner child didn’t receive from the family is still missing, but it won’t be you, my sister, who will heal it. Dear sister, you are narcissistic, manipulative, and a liar just like your mother, and for me, that is not something I seek to bring back into my life. That’s why I go alone.

I don’t care about living with you, knowing how your day was, or your husband’s, or your children’s. I don’t care what grade your kids are in, what they want to be when they grow up, or what their favorite show on Netflix is. I don’t care if you are immigrating to the USA and need help. I don’t care if you are suffering or happy. I don’t care about meeting your new child, I don’t care about being present at birthdays, holidays, I don’t care about making plans.

I remember almost three years ago when I told an acquaintance, “I’m doing everything for a sister who I know wouldn’t do any of this for me,” right after I hung up a call with you. And that echoes in my mind. It echoes when I called a friend as soon as I got out of jail, and she said, “I called your sister to ask about you, and she was more interested in finding out how to immigrate here than about you.” And my sister, I remember the times I helped you financially, you never returned the favor. I remember when your son wanted a special edition of Lego, and I bought it. I remember the money I sent as gifts all the time. I never received a call, not even on my birthday. The lack of respect for me was always present.

But you never needed to respect me. I never had boundaries; everyone could use me and then discard me. No problem, Cesar always has a huge heart to accept it again, and again, and again. But something inside me changed, something much bigger woke up, and if you don’t know how to give me respect and values, I’ll show you who I am now. That’s why, and for everything else, my sister, I withdraw from your life. In fact, I was never really in it, and I’m happy for that.

Dear sister, you were a wonderful memory of my childhood, even though that memory had MUCH pain, the little good that there was, my inner child keeps with affection, and I follow my journey. I think that’s forgiving, it doesn’t hurt, even knowing there was pain, it doesn’t weigh on me, I don’t want to carry it. I prefer to go alone, free, far from this family and you, dear sister.

Today I stop being your brother, today I stop being your family. With all my love, C

[giftz-for-your-loved-ones]

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[seemabhatnagar]

Empowering Choices: Kerala HC Upholds personal liberty in land mark ruling

The High Court of Kerala Dismisses Criminal Writ Petition on the Grounds of Personal Liberty. Case: X v. Director General of Police Thiruvananthapuram & 5 others Writ Petition (Crl) 584/2024 Court: High Court of Kerala at Ernakulam Judges: Hon’ble Mr. Justice P Manoj J & Hon’ble Mr. Justice Raja VijayaRaghvan V J Summary: In a significant ruling, the High Court of Kerala dismissed the writ petition filed by the father of Ms. X, who sought the intervention of the court to produce his daughter, alleged to be detained by the 5th and 6th respondents. The petitioner contended that his daughter, a victim under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, was being influenced by the respondents. However, the court observed that Ms. X is an adult, having turned 18, and is residing with the 6th respondent of her own free will. The judges cited the precedent set in Gian Devi v. Superintendent Nari Niketan Delhi, emphasizing the constitutional right of an adult woman to make her own choices about where and with whom she wishes to live. Key Points: The court underscored the importance of respecting the personal liberty and individual choice of adults. It recognized the right of Ms. X to make conscious decisions about her life. The ruling reinforces the principles of personal freedom and autonomy enshrined in the Constitution. Full Story: The Criminal Writ Petition filed by Ms. X's father aimed at directing police authorities to produce her, allegedly detained by respondents Shibila and Rejina. The father argued that his daughter was a victim of sexual assault by the 5th Respondent Shibila and had been placed under the care of the Child Welfare Committee, Malappuram. Despite this, Ms. X left her hostel in February 2024 and chose to stay with respondent Rejina. The court ruled that 18 years old, Ms. X has the right to make her own decisions, including where and with whom she resides. The judgment emphasized that no one, including family members or the court, can override an adult's choice regarding her personal life. This ruling is a significant affirmation of individual rights, reiterating the judiciary's role in upholding personal freedom and dignity.

[manoasha]

"Over Expectations Unbound: Breaking Free"

In the intricate tapestry of life, expectations from ourselves and others often weave a complex web that can be both suffocating and burdensome. The weight of meeting societal, familial, and personal expectations can create a profound sense of pressure, leading to negativity and emotional turmoil. How can we break free from this cycle and liberate ourselves from the burden of expectations? The…

[advancebiofuel]

Success is doing what you want, when you want, where you want, with whom you want, as much as you want.

[ravikugupta]

Summary of "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz

“The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz is a spiritual guidebook that presents four powerful principles for personal transformation and freedom. Drawing on ancient Toltec wisdom, Ruiz shares profound insights into the beliefs and agreements that shape our lives. This summary provides an overview of the key concepts and takeaways from the book, offering insights into the path to personal freedom…

[motivationandeducationworld]

[inexable]

Guns, Ghosts, and Grocery Lists: A Supreme Court Debate Unfolds

As the Supreme Court grapples with the legality of ghost guns, the debate took a turn towards everyday analogies—grocery lists, omelets, and IKEA furniture, as justices question the ease and intent behind these DIY firearms. Should a kit of parts so easily converted into a weapon be treated as a complete gun under the law? Can today's ruling tip the balance in gun control while respecting personal freedoms and hobbies? Let's dive into how these metaphorical musings might shape legislative futures and individual rights. What are your thoughts on this intersection of law and everyday life?

[tmarshconnors]

The LGBTQ2+ movement…

The LGBTQ2+ movement has undeniably become a powerful force in contemporary culture, pushing for expanded rights, visibility, and acceptance. However, as a staunch supporter of conservative ideals, I can’t help but notice a growing divide within this movement that threatens to undermine the very principles that the original LGBT community stood for. What started as a fight for equality, personal freedom, and dignity has, in many ways, evolved into something far more complex—something that seems to be at odds with the original spirit of the movement. I mean seriously what is LGBTQ2+?!?! It’s apparently an abbreviation that includes: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, two-spirited, intersex, quest, questioning and asexual. A genuine mouthful.

The Evolution of LGBT: A Movement Rooted in Personal Freedom

The early LGBT movement was centred around the principles of individual freedom, dignity, and the right to live without persecution. Gays and lesbians sought the same civil rights as everyone else—rights to marry, adopt, and live their lives free of discrimination. Trans individuals, though often marginalised, sought recognition and the right to live as their authentic selves. The goal was simple: equality under the law and respect for personal choices.

At its core, the LGBT movement was about personal freedom—the idea that individuals should be able to define themselves and their lives without fear of repression. This resonated with many, even those who held conservative views. After all, isn’t personal responsibility and freedom something conservatives also value deeply? The focus on equality and the right to pursue happiness aligned, in many ways, with the broader American ethos of individual liberty.

The LGBTQ2+ Movement: A Shift in Focus

However, the modern LGBTQ2+ movement has shifted its focus dramatically. What was once about individual rights and personal freedom has morphed into something broader, more ideological, and often more divisive. This expansion has introduced new complexities, and some argue, contradictions, that threaten to undo the progress made by the original LGBT movement.

One of the key concerns is that the LGBTQ2+ movement now seems to focus on identity politics and groupthink, rather than the core principles of personal freedom. Instead of fighting for the rights of individuals to make their own choices, the movement has become heavily politicised, with some factions pushing for societal conformity to their worldview. This shift from personal liberty to collective ideology is problematic for many reasons. It has really been warped by the radial left.

The Internal Conflict: Radicalism vs. Moderation

The rapid expansion of LGBTQ2+ identities has led to growing internal conflicts within the movement. For example, there is a divide between those who advocate for more radical changes in society—such as redefining gender entirely—and those who simply want equal treatment under the law. This has created tension between moderates who align with the original ideals of the LGBT movement and those who push for more extreme social changes.

Radical activism, while it garners attention, often alienates the very people it seeks to convert. Pushing ideas that challenge long-held beliefs about gender, biology, and social norms can feel coercive rather than liberating. Moreover, this radicalism creates fractures within the LGBTQ2+ community itself, as not all members agree with the direction the movement is taking. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, for instance, may feel their identities are being overshadowed by an overwhelming focus on gender ideology, which can dilute the original goals of the movement.

Alienating Allies and Fuelling Backlash

The broader LGBTQ2+ agenda has also alienated potential allies. Many who once supported the movement for its focus on equality and freedom are now questioning the direction it has taken. The push for societal conformity to ever-evolving concepts of identity and language can feel authoritarian.

The insistence on compliance with new norms—such as the use of certain pronouns or the acceptance of specific gender theories—can be seen as infringing on personal beliefs and free speech. This authoritarian bent, even if well-intentioned, often drives away those who value freedom of thought and expression.

Furthermore, this shift is fuelling a backlash that could potentially undo years of progress. When movements push too far, too fast, they risk sparking resistance from the very people they need to convince. Conservatives who might have been willing to support basic LGBT rights are now being driven into opposition by what they perceive as overreach. Even within more progressive circles, there is a growing discomfort with the direction the LGBTQ2+ movement is taking.

The LGBTQ2+ movement is at a crossroads. It can continue down its current path, pushing for ever more radical changes, but at the risk of alienating both its internal members and external allies. Or, it can refocus on the original ideals that once made it a powerful force for good: personal freedom, dignity, and equality under the law.

As a conservative, I believe in the importance of individual responsibility and freedom. While I may not agree the original LGBT movement stood for, I can respect its focus on equality and the right to live without persecution. However, the current direction of the LGBTQ2+ movement raises serious concerns—not just for conservatives, but for anyone who values the principles of liberty and personal freedom.

If the LGBTQ2+ movement is to remain relevant and successful, it must reconsider its approach. It must find a way to balance the needs of its most radical members with the broader principles that once united it. Otherwise, it risks undermining its own achievements and destroying the ideals that made it a force for change in the first place.

[creatingtodayinvestinginme]

I AM HAPPY! #🤗

Read that again I̤̮ AM HAPPY - See who made that decision? #❤️

You turn #👣

#happinessishomemade #happy #freedom #authentic #autonomy #ownership #mylife #mychoice #decisionmaker #personalfreedom #personal #makeitpersonal #yourhappinessmatters #believeit #youmatter #youareneeded #youareloved #ownwhoyouare #perspective #mindset #fearLESS #live #be #free #boba #lifebydesign