A FREEDOM Challenge - I'm Up For It...
freedomtribe·@porters·
0.000 HBDA FREEDOM Challenge - I'm Up For It...
@FreedomTribe has an exciting new Steem Challenge - Read about it [here](https://steemit.com/freedomtribe/@freedomtribe/freedom-challenge-50-steem-in-prizes)  They ask you to post about this simple question: >What's the one thing you have lost - or would be afraid to lose - which would limit (or has already limited) your personal Freedom? The first thing that came to mind was when I lost my mobility and health through a car accident in which I was paralyzed. I wrote about overcoming paralysis in a previous post at: https://steemit.com/naturalmedicine/@porters/my-healing-story-overcoming-paralysis These injuries resulted in a long stay in hospital (one of the most unhealthy places to be and I sure didn't want to be there but because of my condition I lost my freedom of choice.) When the swelling in my fractured neck was right up, I was very reliant on others, even to the point of having someone feed me - I had lost my independence. I worked hard to regain that independence but for the first winters I could not return to my home in the forest which only meant I worked harder so I was able to return home to the place that I loved! I'll be writing more about what my forest home has given me further on in this article. Another thing I had a great fear of losing was my sanity! You may jokingly say >You're driving me crazy! What does that mean? That you have been pushed to your limits.  Have you ever looked over that dark crevasse where everything is jumbled, nothing makes sense and you've been pulled into the Abyss? In my teen years I had experienced that mildly and wrote about that experience in a previous post at: https://steemit.com/naturalmedicine/@porters/my-responce-to-natural-medicines-contest-how-i-thrive-and-creatively-support-my-mental-health One of the main things that pulled me out of that was the recognition that what you focus on - you give power to. Loosing my cool too, often left me with issues dealing with my anger. I found a solution to that in a simple little handbook I had found at a garage sale with some Buddhist writings. One of it being on anger. >Change your anger to love. If you can not change your anger to love then just walk away from it. That has served me well over the years and kept me from the craziness of being engulfed with anger! There is a lot of "craziness" out in the world and without a strong base it is easy to get pulled into it, to become imbalanced and unable to see your way clear. It interferes with your ability to relate to others and you are often left stuck in your own dark world unable to connect with others. #### Loving-Kindness  Loving-kindness is a strong force which is able to break through that confusion and set you free. There were times when I would end my day knowing I had come close to going over the edge and THAT IS SCARY! But let's go back to that idea of having a strong base. Through the years I have developed a strong meditation practice that gives me the strength and clarity plus direction and purpose so I will no longer be pulled and swayed by all the craziness of the world. I've created my home in the peace and quiet of the forest where I can also retreat at the end of the day from the work-a-day world. I begin my day with meditation, Vipassana meditation, being aware of the mind and it's wanderings, but just witnessing/observing it and not getting caught up in them or other emotions that may arise. I go to that small quiet space within, where I find peace and tranquility and gain strength to face the day. I hope you too can find peace and tranquility in your life!  I would like to invite you to "Mindful Life" community, that is only just beginning in the [@naturalmedicine](https://steemit.com/@naturalmedicine) server [here](https://discord.gg/AfQSqMb). **Goals of 'Mindful Life' -** - To unite meditators across the Steem blockchain so that we can share and strengthen our own practices - To provide a space to discuss the philosophy, science and practical application of such practices in our lives - To inspire and motivate each other - To provide support if we might be struggling, connecting with like minded people who might offer solutions We plan to run group meditations and support each other as we grow through conscious awareness, and there is a big group meditation for all of Steemit coming up on May 1st! Read all about it [here](https://steemit.com/meditation/@naturalmedicine/a-warm-and-loving-invitation-join-us-on-1st-may-for-a-steem-first)<center>  [Discord](https://discord.gg/uSwkRv3) 🧘[About](https://steempeak.com/mindfulness/@naturalmedicine/introducing-mindful-life-uniting-meditators-across-steem-all-welcome-plus-steem-bounty) </center> Top image from Graphic Stock others from Pixabay. <center>**Thanks for stopping by!**</center> <center>https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmdZG7yvPzVj55gFmVH5tFbb7Ji8ufeYhLX4sSvZEDyNLu/porters.gif</center> <center> </center> <center></center> <center>Discover previous ecoTrain magazines at @ecoTrain</center> <center></center> <center>https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/452511909695193088/570711231326060554/image0.jpg</center> <center>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmeVsy1qbnNXW2hc2NbdeuosXS25eenJjCfkbtq9PkGPFk/freedom_steem_tribe.jpg</center>
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