DISQUS

Maybe this freedom follows the same rule that goes for everything:

You don't appreciate it until it's gone.

I have to say though, that i don't relate challenges, losses and learning with freedom. I don't think that one is "free" when young, since everything has a consequence, and what seems like freedom now may imprison us later. Successes and failures are just a part of life, no matter the age.

The freedom comes from what we lack, not from what we have.

Great post Grace, really got me thinking.

Susan, I find your whole attitude really awesome and inspiring as well.

To be able to realize that change can be good, when you were naturally not a "changing-lover" person, it's a wonderful lesson for anyone still fearing the new.

I'm so glad that you agree with this point of view, because I wouldn't be posting it here if I weren't convinced that it can lead to good things for anyone trying to do it.

You rock Susan, thanks for your very valuable opinion!

Let me be selfish with my comment and say this: thank you.

Thank you for saying something absolutely new (for me at least), about change.

This ain't easy, change has been a discussed topic for ages now, but I actually have never thought on change that way. As something SO easy.

Great thought Rikin, and i can't wait to read your post on Matt's series.

Erica, this has been one of my favorite posts of the series so far. Beautifully written and inspiring. You're without a doubt, a strong woman :)

Of course, i am now following you on twitter and checking out your blog.

Congratulations for your work.

Not much to add Sam. You've said perfectly, and i love the distinction that you make between teenagers and young independent people. Actually, i think that twitter has changed my life even more than blogging did. More conversations there :)

Hopefully we can get to know each other Sam! It'd be a pleasure :)

This subject is as deep as complex. I commented something on Jamie Varon's post about love, that i think it relates to this.

I was a pretty insecure person. I really was. Mainly because life experiences made me feel that way, made me feel doubtful about my choices in life and my way to talk to people.

And here's the tricky part. It was also life experiences what made me confident. It's not about "sucking" at it, or "doing something" to change it. It's about living where you feel most comfortable with, where succes is achievable to you, in order to realize that you're GOOD at things.

It comes down to living, and gradually confidence will come to you. As long as you go after your dreams, confidence will follow. Don't look for it, instead look for your happiness and fulfillment. I have yet to see an insecure happy person.

You're well on your way Sam, don't worry. Confidence is a matter of paths, and oyu just have to worry to follow yours.

I always recall Malcolm Gladwell on this topic:

Context is more important tan individual actions.

I'm with you 100% on moving somewhere for the location. An appropiate context for you, will bring out your best. Your career and more important, happiness, will follow.

I'm happy to get to know this part of your life, it's just another proof of your wisdom. Glad to have met you Grace, for real.

Sadly, it's true....
Why sadly? Because sometimes family members are our biggest detractors. Their opinions matter too much sometimes.
But, as you say, we can't just erase them from our lives. They'll be a part of it, always.

I feel like you do, but i'm not so happy about it. I think we should be able to part ways even from family. Just because we share blood, doesn't mean we should share opinions, or even influence other family members' actions.

Nice post, loved it!

I agree with you Rikin, in not agreeing with PT's post. Pretty much because of all the same reasons that you point out. So, i won't go there, you say it perfectly.

Let me disagree with other points of your post:

1) I had some criticism towards Brazen too, and emailed them to Ryan. We talked about it. Privately. You shouldn't bash a community without name specifications, because you are trashing everyone that belongs to it. Generalizing is NEVER the right choice. Ever. And hey, i'm not even a Brazen member, so i'm not defending them, but i am saying how i would approach criticism towards a community.

2) I'm guessing that you and me, are different kind of bloggers than Penelope, or Holly Hoffman for example. The thing about them is that they are authentic. They are personal. I don't think we are. We blog about different things. And that's something we have to understand, specially when the blogger has such popularity and so many avid readers (and defenders) like PT does. I think her post was wrong, but it still was authentic. I think i saw @junelin agreeing and loving her post. And that's ok. That's what her readers want from her. Authenticity, at it's core. They want her writing happy, angry, sad, w/e. And she delivered once again.

3) Public doesn't mean free. Yes, she took it too far. But hurting feelings should come with a price, offline and online.

That's it. I'm not unfollowing you or stop reading your blog man! Don't be so drastic. I think it's great for you to put your thoughts out there, but be careful of who you talk about.

Hope to see your next post soon. Take care.

You are absolutely right. I may have my opinion influenced of my personal experience when i was a kid, and that's a mistake. Religion was boring for me, but there's a lot of people that truly engage with it, and have an awesome time.

But then again, people can find that fun in many places and activities. Consider that people today don't want even a little bit of boring time. It's like religion may be 80% fun, but partying for example, it's a 100%.

Shallow? Immature? Probably. But our generation has many flaws, and these may be some of it.

I still admire your whole view, i truly do. Keep it up Sam!

Mmmmm, touchy subject. Great post.

I think that religion, by keeping it's traditions and rituals, they just go against this fast paced world that we live in today. People don't want to wait their whole lifes for gratification, because everything happens RIGHT NOW for them.

Besides, life today, thanks to A LOT of marketing, is associated with enjoying it and having fun, something religion won't deliver.

Also, the media and massive world communication have ruined a lot of the religion's reputation. After all, there IS a business behind it (beliefs aside).

Let me just say anyway, that i don't think Gen Y blogging should be any indication of our generation's beliefs. There are a lot of religious young people, no doubt about it.

Having a blog requires the defiance of many concepts, while religion is all about the preservation and perpetuation of them. It's hard to blog well about it. Not impossible (you're an example!), but hard.

This post made me remember all those dilbert's strips of how meetings are useless and a waste of time. I think that with conf calls, this is specially true. It's just a way for everyone to feel like they accomplished some progress. I don't think that's what actually happens in most cases.

All the way from Argentina, i'm in.

Me sumo, y espero poder generar algo parecido en habla hispana.

Looking forward...

Como se subestima a veces a la persona más poderosa de un país....
Y como se la sobreestima otras tantas.

Fascinante tu blog, espero que puedas pasarte por el mío y me puedas aconsejar, creo que tengo algo bueno para transmitir.

Saludos

Supongo que ante un informe así, lo mejor que se puede decir es "The sky is the limit".
Primera vez que paso por tu blog, yo empecé el mío hace poco. El tuyo me pareció muy interesante, ya que tocas casi todos los temas de los que intento aprender y quiero transmitir.
Espero que mi blog te pueda generar algo remótamente parecido. Un saludo, y seguiré tu blog de cerca.