Perdita Palmer
22/11/2013
Money is freedom – so some say. But how
does one define freedom?
Freedom.
Think about it. It’s probably one of the most
powerful concepts that determines, or in an abstract sense, surrounds politics,
culture and humanity. Everyone strives for freedom but what are we actually striving
for?
Some argue that education, opportunity,
monetary gain in career success equals or enables freedom. But to do what?
Travel? See the world? Revel in materialism? Does money provide reliable means
by which to find, experience or succeed in love, self- satisfaction or pride?
Money may enable one to access many aspects of life that everyone considers necessary
or standard in order to conventionally or superficially ‘survive’ but whether
one actually feels free or is free with any of these is a different matter. One
might have more money than sense, but happiness, love, family, trust, honesty
and satisfaction can never be guaranteed.
As the well known saying goes:
“When you are in
the final days of your life, what will you want? Will you hug that college
degree in the walnut frame? Will you ask to be carried out to the garage so you
can sit in your car? Will you find comfort in reading your financial statement?
No. What will matter then will be the people”.
You might be thinking: “what has this got
to do with User Voice?” Well, a lot. User Voice and the people that have
entered my life have taught me one of the most important and enlightening
lessons of my life, so far. And I can tell you now that this lesson has changed
the direction of my life in a rich and meaningful way that has left me feeling
liberated, inspired, ambitious and free.
My journey has gone from conservatism,
ignorance and boredom to freedom of thought, satisfaction and appreciation.
Having had a very privileged upbringing, it is common of many of my peers to
follow the expected timeline of life progression. So, you go from completion of
secondary school, to university and into a job that reflects your desire to
maintain and replicate the standard of living we are all used to. Yes,
privilege, education and financial stability provides opportunity and freedom
of choice but how free actually are we? It might sound strange but overwhelming
opportunity is actually largely restricting. So much choice equals indecision,
confusion and most profoundly dissatisfaction.
I feel as though many of my peers lack in
education through experience because of the expected timeline progression. But
the opportunities I have said yes to, have led me down a different path that
now makes me feel detached from my familiar peers.
My journey began with the shock of someone
close to me facing a long stretch in prison. This turned my life upside down and
was the catalyst for my desire to become a successful defence barrister but
also to enrich my life by understanding and appreciating the lives of others. My
personal experience opened up a whole world of understanding but also frustration.
The ignorance that fills society about many aspects of the criminal justice
system and the people that pass through it infuriates me daily. I used to be
one of those conservative bigots who at one stage would have supported an
individual such as Chris Grayling. But tragedy happened to me, tragedy happened
to my family and it’s not until it happens to you that you can then understand and appreciate other people’s
stories.
This society is filled with so much
superficial public discourse instilled by the powerful who more often than not
have no idea what the people they are there to serve, face. In many ways, I
wish I had remained in my bubble and had not experienced such a tragic
situation. But in many other ways, I feel as though it has educated me in such
a way that makes me cringe at the thought of how I would have lived my life.
Before my journey began, I had no idea what I wanted to do but I was money
motivated. I had no real passion in life apart from money. Without a specific
passion to follow, I was on the brink of entering a career in
headhunting/recruitment that would have filled my daily life with aggression,
close mindedness and a vulgar desperation for the big pay cheque at the end of
the month. How sad. And how lucky I am now to have escaped that.
It’s easy to hear about someone else’s
story and have a momentary feeling of sympathy or compassion but how genuine
and long lasting is it? My story, however tragic it has been has not even
compared to some of the stories attached to some of the individuals I have got
to know. But, because of what I have experienced so far, I can truly understand
and appreciate the hardship that now inspires me.
Life isn’t about money. Of course you need
money to survive but there is much more to life than materialism, the
superficiality of relationships, the sick desire to appear a certain way or
attempt to embody someone you are not. There are people in this world that have
been at rock bottom and faced such tragedy in their life but had the individual
strength to acknowledge it, face it, overcome it and carry it with them to save
others. Many of these people I have met, I work alongside daily. To come from working
in a corporate environment in the city, bored out of my brain, counting down
the minutes until the day ends and feeling miserable, bored and so selfish to
take for granted the ease and stability of my life compared to where I am now,
is amazing. And it’s just the beginning. The moment I walk into my work place
now, I can feel the electric passion
that unites every single one of us. This is a feeling that I have been lucky
enough to experience and learn about; I seek this continuation of satisfaction
throughout my career and throughout my life.
Bigots exclude people who have been through
the criminal justice system. People even look at me differently and want to
dissociate themselves with me because I’m attached to someone in prison. But
these individuals, I pity.
My life has taken a completely different
direction than was expected, working with individuals who originally felt
unfamiliar to me, but I’m proud.
I’m proud to be surrounded by people who
are educated, ambitious and enriched with a pure understanding of life. There
is no individual better than an ex – prisoner to be able to know and understand
the true meaning of freedom. The thought of the raw sense of freedom upon
release, a feeling that I have not personally experienced, is so powerful and
challenges what most people’s definition of freedom is.
Call me pensive but the last two years of
my life have awakened me and have made me a better person. The people I work
with every day make me a better person. To have experienced such a transformation
is heartwarming. A job shouldn’t be undertaken just for monetary gain. A
direction in life shouldn’t be pursued just because it is expected of you or because
it’s convenient.
I
broke my socially expected rules and feel as though I have found freedom to now
live my life.
