A Simple Definition of Freedom (Well, Actually Two)

11 Oct 2026 #misc

Golden handcuffs are real.

I’ve had them once or twice in my career.
The first time, it was with a challenging problem, casual Fridays, and monthly birthday celebrations.
The next time, it was with flexible hours, decent salary, and the promise of building any role I wanted.

Each one had more “freedom” than the previous one.
Just more loosen handcuffs.

Paul Glushak writes Corporate Burnout:

Today as always, men fall into two groups: slaves and free men. Whoever does not have two-thirds of his day for himself, is a slave, whatever he may be: a statesman, a businessman, an official, or a scholar.

By Paul’s definition, I’m not a slave anymore.

And an aunt recently taught me a lesson:

Freedom is doing whatever you want, whenever you want.

By my aunt’s definition, I’m almost free.

Are you completely free?