I am in love with a woman. She understands me. She understands this journey of writing and unfolding as an individual. Because she understands me she encourages me. She is a light that together with my light is a powerful unity of seeing and helping each other move forward….On dark days I light her path and she lights mine.

Our goals are mutual and complimenting. We both seek freedom and success. But what is freedom and what is success? We hear the expression “freedom” thrown around by politicians like shit from a monkey. The freedom I am speaking of is in part, yes, freedom of speech and thought. It is also the freedom of action as well. It is the freedom to feel, know oneself and act in accordance. It is the freedom to dream, dare and think outside of accepted conventions and the paradigm of society that we have been led to believe is the only reality.

The freedom I speak of is the freedom to forge one’s own path. It is the freedom to be free and act within that paradigm. It is the freedom to know thy self which is the only true freedom.

When we are not free emotions and thoughts will hold us in place, unsure, and stuck. And if we are unable to live free and in accordance with those callings within then how will we ever be a success?

The success I have known has only occurred when fulfilling my abilities. My success can not be the same as the guy down the street because we have different potentials, and ultimately, desires. We Are Different People! So our success will differ as well.

There are some people who are greedy and would destroy the world for a buck. On paper they are “successes” but they may be miserable or bad in romantic relationships or a shitty friend or simply lost. And they may be successful in business and in their greed, but they are not successful human beings.

The definition of success is far broader than its thin label would imply.

There are many who are not wealthy but are shining successes.

At times over my forty years I have grappled with the chains of my mind and felt like a prisoner in my life wearing a straight jacket. I shook and yanked and tried to escape from it like Houdini, but the process of removing the straight jacket takes time. We can remove it, though. In fact we are the only ones who can.

It is the same process to find ones own freedom and ones success.

I am in love with a woman who wants me to be free as much as she wants freedom for herself. And in that love there is both freedom and success.