Do we live, or do we merely exist? Depending on whether we are free or not is what will determine the answer. But how do we know that? Because freedom makes us happy, thus, if we are happy we are free, and if we are free it means that we are truly living our life, otherwise, we only exist.
The other day I was reading an article about pigeons, and I read something that really caught my attention. The article said that wild pigeons have a life expectancy of around 5 years while pigeons in captivity can live around 15 years or more, and after reading that, I wondered: It is better to live longer with everything you need to survive but with no freedom, or it is better to live less, with a not so comfortable life, but being free?
Trying to give an answer, I said to myself – Okay, the truth is I can’t think as a pigeon, I can’t know what is better for them and what they would prefer, but I can think as a human, and as we are free beings, so are pigeons. We both have something in common, and that is the need to be free, and I believe every being has the same need. None of us would prefer to be kept in captivity or in an “all-inclusive prison” in order to live more comfortably for many years, or at least is not what we humans want, or… maybe yes?
“None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
I hesitated for a couple of minutes and then I asked myself other questions: It is not in that way how most human beings on this earth actually live? Don’t we live in captivity? I mean, don’t we constantly fall into the trap of living as prisoners in our comfort zone? Because that is what our comfort zone is, it is the cage where we lock ourselves with the purpose of surviving. In fact, that is what we do, we survive, we exist, but do we truly live?
The truth is that living in our comfort zone only gives us the feeling of being truly alive and free, which in fact is only an illusion, that is why it is so easy for us to live there, pretending to be happy, because it gives us the idea that there we can have everything we want in order to live a comfortable, happy, and peaceful life, but in order to survive we refuse to live the life we want because doing that would mean leaving our comfort zone, which would mean that we would have to put ourselves at risk, where everything we have can vanish in the blink of an eye.
“Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.” – Wayne Dyer
Wild or in captivity? Uncomfortable or comfortable? Free or caged? What would you choose if you knew you were going to die in a year? Would you still be doing what you are doing now? Because if you don’t, that means you already live in captivity. The truth is our future is not guaranteed, and no matter how safe we think we are, any time can be our time. What matters is to live our life, and not simply survive. Otherwise, what would be the point of this life?
I mean, how many years a human being can live? 50? 60? 80 years? I mean, what is the point of living 80 years if you haven’t lived at all? Maybe you have experienced a safe and comfortable life, and that’s totally fine, but if you haven’t pursued a dream, or you haven’t dared to go for a new adventure, or if you haven’t followed your heart, or if you didn’t do something that has required you to leave your comfort zone at least once in a while if you haven’t experienced the feeling of happiness that comes from being free to do whatever you want without letting your fears, other people, situations, and anything to stop you, then you haven’t lived at all.
The fundamental truth is that your life belongs uniquely to you. Only you have the authority to choose how to live it, and the wisest choice we can all make is to pursue what brings us joy. However, it’s crucial to remember that true living is not about being confined or restricted; that is merely existing. To live is to be free.
