What is Freedom?

“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does.”

Imagine you are walking alone along a lamp lit road. You were released from work late, yet again, and now you inch your way home through twilight.

You hate your job. You despise your boss. You are grateful for each step that brings you further from that loathsome place. You take a deep breath, and as you release that breath, you decide to quit.

Yes, tomorrow will be the day you finally quit your job.

You turn the corner pulsing with freedom and possibility. But you are not alone. There in the distance emerging out of the dark shadows you see a Stranger walking toward you.

Your back stiffens, but you continue walking.  What should you do? Should you say hello? Why not, you have just quit your job and are pulsing with freedom and possibility. Perhaps you'll say hello, and you’ll get to talking and they will invite you to dinner.

They are getting closer.

You’ll have a lovely time. You will be seen.

Closer.

But what if you say hello, and instead they avoid you? What if they hate you? Or worse, what if they want to hurt you? What if that is why they are here now, walking towards you?

Closer.

Your mind races in every direction. With every step between you and the Other an infinite amount of possibilities evolve into being and die, fragile like butterflies.

The moment comes.

You say nothing. You pass.

They pass. They say nothing.

The moment is gone.

You make it home. You go to bed. The next day you go to work resenting every step that brings you to that loathsome place. The day passes. Your boss makes you stay late, yet again. You decide that tomorrow will be the day you quit your job.

“Freedom is what we do with what is done to us”

Inspired by Jean-Paul Sartre

Written by Catherine Grace

With research by Victoria Venturella and Anthony Greenaway