“You can’t make a fan of everyone. Stay true to your story, characters, music, art or whatever it is you do and fuck everyone else who doesn’t like it. Life isn’t perfect.” ― Ann Marie Frohoff

Along this journey called life, one resounding theme that lurches through the very core of our being is the overwhelming desire for freedom. Freedom is a powerful and tenuous concept that takes numerous forms, each unique and profoundly personal. Nevertheless, one of the most liberating, energizing, and invigorating freedoms we can ever experience is the freedom to be ourselves, harboured by the weight of external expectations.

Self-discovery and reflection is the key to this liberation. Genuine freedom starts with a period of contemplation. To unshackle ourselves from the expectations of others, we must set forth on a proceeding journey of self-exploration. This means getting to know ourselves beyond the surface and having the resolution, courage, and willingness to confront anxieties, insecurities, and self-doubts that have imprisoned us mentally.

Our inner voice is one of our most powerful tools on this journey to freedom. Listen to it carefully, for it is the GPS that will guide you on the road to a life that is true to your heart’s desires.

Understand that the path to freedom comes with headaches and challenges. As we struggle to be authentic, we may experience resistance, disapproval, and criticism from those who don’t want to understand or accept our choices. And that’s, in every respect, okay. It’s crucial to facilitate resilience to weather the storms. It’s vital to nurture an unadulteratedly accommodating relationship daily with our reflection in the mirror. That reflection will always be more than enough.

As we journey toward this path of freedom, remember that your uniqueness and individuality enrich the world. You are the author of your own story, and your destiny is yours to define unfettered by the expectations of people and the world around you.

— Brian Nadon