Live Free
What does it even mean to be free? Everyone has their own definition of what freedom is, but words don't do justice in comparison to the feeling of freedom. My feeling of freedom can never be the same as someone else and vice versa. I absolutely love moments when your mind clears and you're just enchanted by the world around you. I had a moment to myself today when I wandered off from the group and climbed on the rocks. I sat there, thinking about nothing. I guess you can say, I was in the moment. I love the feeling of sitting alone near the water, with nothing on your mind and the only sound you can hear is the clashing of the water on the rocks and the wind sweeping through your hair; that is my freedom. I feel free when I hike up a mountain; I enjoy every step I take on the trail and when I reach my destination I let all the beauty that surrounds me fill my soul. Living free doesn't necessarily have to be a physical thing. I feel absolutely liberated when I muster up the courage to do something that I have never done before or have always been hesitant to do and the feeling of conquering the unknown is that I consider to be living free. Everyday I grow more and more courageous of showing the world who I really am. For years I was always worried about how people would see me and for what!? It took me a while to realize that what random people think of me doesn't really matter in the end and that the only thing that should matter is how I think of myself. Don't take this the wrong way, but I love myself. It took me a lot of time to realize that God made me beautiful in my own way and that I'm smart and funny and that I'm an amazing person to be around. It sounds weird, but it was me that put the shackles on my wrists and only when I decided to take out the key and free myself did I find out who I really am.
Die Hard
I absolutely love hearing "it's better to die on your feet than on your knees"; a famous quote from Emiliano Zapata. In terms of death, I yearn to die with honor for myself as well as for my family. Since my time here in Greece, I've written the word "HONOR" on my left wrist about everyday as a reminder of how I want to live and leave my life. In my family, honor is important. I can remember my mother scolding me when I was younger about how I would never address my older family members properly and how she would tell me to "act with honor and dignity". Actually, right before I left for Sea-Tac airport I got a call from my family back home reminding me that I'm representing our family and our country while I'm here abroad and to act honorable. I get lectures from teachers, coaches, mentors about HONOR HONOR HONOR. As much as it sounds like I'm complaining I actually like being reminded to "act in honor". Someday when my life is at its end, I want people to say that I lived honorably and died honorably.
When in Rhodes,
Khadijah
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